Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides, and methods of using same for increasing yield of plants

ABSTRACT

Provided are isolated polynucleotides and nucleic acid constructs which comprise a nucleic acid sequence at least 80% identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected form the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-219, 367-5628, 9688-9700, and 9709-9752; and isolated polypeptides which comprise an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9400, 9701-9708, and 9753-9796. Also provided are transgenic cells and plants expressing same and methods of using same for increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of a plant.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/242,082 filed on Jan. 8, 2019, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/368,556 filed on Jun. 25, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,260,073, which is a National Phase of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/IL2012/050554 having International Filing Date of Dec. 26, 2012, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/603,322 filed on Feb. 26, 2012 and 61/580,674 filed on Dec. 28, 2011. The contents of the above applications are all incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein in their entirety.

SEQUENCE LISTING STATEMENT

The ASCII file, entitled 88194SequenceListing.txt, created on Aug. 10, 2021, comprising 17,233,155 bytes, submitted concurrently with the filing of this application is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to novel polynucleotides and polypeptides which can be used to increase yield (e.g., seed/grain yield, oil yield), nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality and/or length, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency of a plant and to generate transgenic plants with increased yield, nitrogen use efficiency, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality and/or length, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency as compared to wild type or non-transformed plants.

Yield is affected by various factors, such as, the number and size of the plant organs, plant architecture (for example, the number of branches), grains set length, number of filled grains, vigor (e.g. seedling), growth rate, root development, utilization of water, nutrients (e.g., nitrogen) and fertilizers, and stress tolerance.

Crops such as, corn, rice, wheat, canola and soybean account for over half of total human caloric intake, whether through direct consumption of the seeds themselves or through consumption of meat products raised on processed seeds or forage. Seeds are also a source of sugars, proteins and oils and metabolites used in industrial processes. The ability to increase plant yield, whether through increase dry matter accumulation rate, modifying cellulose or lignin composition, increase stalk strength, enlarge meristem size, change of plant branching pattern, erectness of leaves, increase in fertilization efficiency, enhanced seed dry matter accumulation rate, modification of seed development, enhanced seed filling or by increasing the content of oil, starch or protein in the seeds would have many applications in agricultural and non-agricultural uses such as in the biotechnological production of pharmaceuticals, antibodies or vaccines.

A common approach to promote plant growth has been, and continues to be, the use of natural as well as synthetic nutrients (fertilizers). Thus, fertilizers are the fuel behind the “green revolution”, directly responsible for the exceptional increase in crop yields during the last 40 years, and are considered the number one overhead expense in agriculture. Of the three macronutrients provided as main fertilizers [Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P) and Potassium (K)], nitrogen is often the rate-limiting element in plant growth and all field crops have a fundamental dependence on inorganic nitrogenous fertilizer. Nitrogen usually needs to be replenished every year, particularly for cereals, which comprise more than half of the cultivated areas worldwide. For example, inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, or urea, typically accounts for 40% of the costs associated with crops such as corn and wheat.

Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient for the plant, responsible for biosynthesis of amino and nucleic acids, prosthetic groups, plant hormones, plant chemical defenses, etc. In addition, nitrogen is often the rate-limiting element in plant growth and all field crops have a fundamental dependence on inorganic nitrogen. Thus, nitrogen is translocated to the shoot, where it is stored in the leaves and stalk during the rapid step of plant development and up until flowering. In corn for example, plants accumulate the bulk of their organic nitrogen during the period of grain germination, and until flowering. Once fertilization of the plant has occurred, grains begin to form and become the main sink of plant nitrogen. The stored nitrogen can be then redistributed from the leaves and stalk that served as storage compartments until grain formation.

Since fertilizer is rapidly depleted from most soil types, it must be supplied to growing crops two or three times during the growing season. In addition, the low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of the main crops (e.g., in the range of only 30-70%) negatively affects the input expenses for the farmer, due to the excess fertilizer applied. Moreover, the over and inefficient use of fertilizers are major factors responsible for environmental problems such as eutrophication of groundwater, lakes, rivers and seas, nitrate pollution in drinking water which can cause methemoglobinemia, phosphate pollution, atmospheric pollution and the like. However, in spite of the negative impact of fertilizers on the environment, and the limits on fertilizer use, which have been legislated in several countries, the use of fertilizers is expected to increase in order to support food and fiber production for rapid population growth on limited land resources. For example, it has been estimated that by 2050, more than 150 million tons of nitrogenous fertilizer will be used worldwide annually.

Increased use efficiency of nitrogen by plants should enable crops to be cultivated with lower fertilizer input, or alternatively to be cultivated on soils of poorer quality and would therefore have significant economic impact in both developed and developing agricultural systems.

Genetic improvement of fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) in plants can be generated either via traditional breeding or via genetic engineering.

Attempts to generate plants with increased FUE have been described in U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 20020046419 to Choo, et al.; U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2005010879 to Edgerton et al.; U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 20060179511 to Chomet et al.; Good, A, et al. 2007 (Engineering nitrogen use efficiency with alanine aminotransferase. Canadian Journal of Botany 85: 252-262); and Good A G et al. 2004 (Trends Plant Sci. 9:597-605).

Yanagisawa et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2004101:7833-8) describe Dof1 transgenic plants which exhibit improved growth under low-nitrogen conditions.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,153 to Good et al. discloses the use of a stress responsive promoter to control the expression of Alanine Amine Transferase (AlaAT) and transgenic canola plants with improved drought and nitrogen deficiency tolerance when compared to control plants.

The ever-increasing world population and the decreasing availability in arable land for agriculture affect the yield of plants and plant-related products. The global shortage of water supply, desertification, abiotic stress (ABS) conditions (e.g., salinity, drought, flood, suboptimal temperature and toxic chemical pollution), and/or limited nitrogen and fertilizer sources cause substantial damage to agricultural plants such as major alterations in the plant metabolism, cell death, and decreases in plant growth and crop productivity.

Drought is a gradual phenomenon, which involves periods of abnormally dry weather that persists long enough to produce serious hydrologic imbalances such as crop damage, water supply shortage and increased susceptibility to various diseases.

Salinity, high salt levels, affects one in five hectares of irrigated land. None of the top five food crops, i.e., wheat, corn, rice, potatoes, and soybean, can tolerate excessive salt. Detrimental effects of salt on plants result from both water deficit, which leads to osmotic stress (similar to drought stress), and the effect of excess sodium ions on critical biochemical processes. As with freezing and drought, high salt causes water deficit; and the presence of high salt makes it difficult for plant roots to extract water from their environment. Thus, salination of soils that are used for agricultural production is a significant and increasing problem in regions that rely heavily on agriculture, and is worsen by over-utilization, over-fertilization and water shortage, typically caused by climatic change and the demands of increasing population.

Suboptimal temperatures affect plant growth and development through the whole plant life cycle. Thus, low temperatures reduce germination rate and high temperatures result in leaf necrosis. In addition, mature plants that are exposed to excess of heat may experience heat shock, which may arise in various organs, including leaves and particularly fruit, when transpiration is insufficient to overcome heat stress. Heat also damages cellular structures, including organelles and cytoskeleton, and impairs membrane function. Heat shock may produce a decrease in overall protein synthesis, accompanied by expression of heat shock proteins, e.g., chaperones, which are involved in refolding proteins denatured by heat. High-temperature damage to pollen almost always occurs in conjunction with drought stress, and rarely occurs under well-watered conditions. Combined stress can alter plant metabolism in novel ways. Excessive chilling conditions, e.g., low, but above freezing, temperatures affect crops of tropical origins, such as soybean, rice, maize, and cotton. Typical chilling damage includes wilting, necrosis, chlorosis or leakage of ions from cell membranes. Excessive light conditions, which occur under clear atmospheric conditions subsequent to cold late summer/autumn nights, can lead to photoinhibition of photosynthesis (disruption of photosynthesis). In addition, chilling may lead to yield losses and lower product quality through the delayed ripening of maize.

Nutrient deficiencies cause adaptations of the root architecture, particularly notably for example is the root proliferation within nutrient rich patches to increase nutrient uptake. Nutrient deficiencies cause also the activation of plant metabolic pathways which maximize the absorption, assimilation and distribution processes such as by activating architectural changes. Engineering the expression of the triggered genes may cause the plant to exhibit the architectural changes and enhanced metabolism also under other conditions.

In addition, it is widely known that the plants usually respond to water deficiency by creating a deeper root system that allows access to moisture located in deeper soil layers. Triggering this effect will allow the plants to access nutrients and water located in deeper soil horizons particularly those readily dissolved in water like nitrates.

Studies have shown that plant adaptations to adverse environmental conditions are complex genetic traits with polygenic nature. Conventional means for crop and horticultural improvements utilize selective breeding techniques to identify plants having desirable characteristics. However, selective breeding is tedious, time consuming and has an unpredictable outcome. Furthermore, limited germplasm resources for yield improvement and incompatibility in crosses between distantly related plant species represent significant problems encountered in conventional breeding. Advances in genetic engineering have allowed mankind to modify the germplasm of plants by expression of genes-of-interest in plants. Such a technology has the capacity to generate crops or plants with improved economic, agronomic or horticultural traits.

Wheat (Triticum spp) is the most widely grown crop and provides one-fifth of the total calories of the world's population. Future wheat improvement is expected to meet the considerable challenge of increasing production to feed an estimated world population of 9 billion by 2050 coupled with the threat of climate change to crop productivity. Since the 1960s, increases in productivity have been achieved as a result of wide-scale adoption of Green Revolution technologies). These had principally been attained by diverting assimilates previously used for long stem growth to increased size of the grain bearing ears. Thus, post green-revolution wheat lines have shorter stature that is associated with higher harvest index. However, the wheat harvest index is now approaching a plateau and further large increases in harvest index are unlikely to be achieved based only on the breeding approach. Biotechnology tools such as genetic engineering aimed at the introduction of novel genetic variance into wheat might offer an alternative solution. Furthermore, biotechnological approaches have the potential to complement breeding by reducing the time taken to produce cultivars with improved characteristics. However, despite the tremendous potential for wheat improvement through biotechnology approaches, the size and complexity of the wheat genome are challenging obstacles on the way to commercial track of transgenic wheat.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,238,862 (Allison et al.) discloses an improved transformation and regeneration system for wheat, for efficient and reliable for production of fertile plants with improved agronomic qualities.

WO publication No. 2004/104162 discloses methods of increasing abiotic stress tolerance and/or biomass in plants and plants generated thereby.

WO publication No. 2004/111183 discloses nucleotide sequences for regulating gene expression in plant trichomes and constructs and methods utilizing same.

WO publication No. 2004/081173 discloses novel plant derived regulatory sequences and constructs and methods of using such sequences for directing expression of exogenous polynucleotide sequences in plants.

WO publication No. 2005/121364 discloses polynucleotides and polypeptides involved in plant fiber development and methods of using same for improving fiber quality, yield and/or biomass of a fiber producing plant.

WO publication No. 2007/049275 discloses isolated polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding same, transgenic plants expressing same and methods of using same for increasing fertilizer use efficiency, plant abiotic stress tolerance and biomass.

WO publication No. 2007/020638 discloses methods of increasing abiotic stress tolerance and/or biomass in plants and plants generated thereby.

WO publication No. 2008/122980 discloses genes constructs and methods for increasing oil content, growth rate and biomass of plants.

WO publication No. 2008/075364 discloses polynucleotides involved in plant fiber development and methods of using same.

WO publication No. 2009/083958 discloses methods of increasing water use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, biotic/abiotic stress tolerance, yield and biomass in plant and plants generated thereby.

WO publication No. 2009/141824 discloses isolated polynucleotides and methods using same for increasing plant utility.

WO publication No. 2009/013750 discloses genes, constructs and methods of increasing abiotic stress tolerance, biomass and/or yield in plants generated thereby.

WO publication No. 2010/020941 discloses methods of increasing nitrogen use efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, yield and biomass in plants and plants generated thereby.

WO publication No. 2010/076756 discloses isolated polynucleotides for increasing abiotic stress tolerance, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, and/or nitrogen use efficiency of a plant.

WO2010/100595 publication discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides, and methods of using same for increasing plant yield and/or agricultural characteristics.

WO publication No. 2010/049897 discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and methods of using same for increasing plant yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance of plants and nitrogen use efficiency.

WO2010/143138 publication discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides, and methods of using same for increasing nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency WO publication No. 2011/080674 discloses isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides and methods of using same for increasing plant yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance of plants and nitrogen use efficiency.

WO2011/015985 publication discloses polynucleotides and polypeptides for increasing desirable plant qualities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 or 9796, thereby increasing the yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796, thereby increasing the yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a crop comprising growing a crop of a plant expressing an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide at least 80% homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 273, 220-272, 274-366, 5629-9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796, wherein said plant is derived from a plant selected for increased yield, increased growth rate, increased biomass, increased vigor, increased oil content, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased nitrogen use efficiency, and/or increased abiotic stress tolerance as compared to a control plant, thereby producing the crop.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 or 9752, thereby increasing the yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752, thereby increasing the yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a crop comprising growing a crop of a plant expressing an exogenous polynucleotide which comprises a nucleic acid sequence which is at least 80% identical to the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:176, 1-175, 177-219, 367-5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752, wherein said plant is derived from a plant selected for increased yield, increased growth rate, increased biomass, increased vigor, increased oil content, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased nitrogen use efficiency, and/or increased abiotic stress tolerance as compared to a control plant, thereby producing the crop According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 or 9796, wherein the amino acid sequence is capable of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of a plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NOs: 1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is capable of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of a plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a nucleic acid construct comprising the isolated polynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention, and a promoter for directing transcription of the nucleic acid sequence in a host cell.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 80% homologous to SEQ ID NO: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 or 9796, wherein the amino acid sequence is capable of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of a plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided an isolated polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a plant cell exogenously expressing the polynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention, or the nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a plant cell exogenously expressing the polypeptide of some embodiments of the invention.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a transgenic plant comprising the nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention or the plant cell of some embodiments of the invention.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid sequence encodes an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the polynucleotide consists of the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid sequence encodes the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the plant cell forms part of a plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprising growing the plant expressing the exogenous polynucleotide under the abiotic stress.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the abiotic stress is selected from the group consisting of salinity, osmotic stress, drought, water deprivation, flood, etiolation, low temperature, high temperature, heavy metal toxicity, anaerobiosis, nutrient deficiency, nutrient excess, atmospheric pollution and UV irradiation.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the yield comprises seed yield or oil yield.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprising growing the plant expressing the exogenous polynucleotide under nitrogen-limiting conditions.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the promoter is heterologous to the isolated polynucleotide and/or to the host cell.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the plant is wheat.

According to some embodiments of the invention, expressing the exogenous polynucleotide is performed using a wheat promoter.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the promoter is suitable for expression in a wheat plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the wheat promoter comprises the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 9811, 9806, 9807, 9804, 9805, 9812, 9813, 9809, 9810, 9406, 9409, 9407, 9408, 9797, 9418, 9799, 9800, 9801, 9808, and 9803.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a method of growing a crop, the method comprising seeding seeds and/or planting plantlets of a plant transformed with the isolated polynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention, or the nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention, wherein the plant is derived from plants selected for at least one trait selected from the group consisting of: increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased biomass, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased yield and increased fiber yield or quality, and increased oil content as compared to a non-transformed plant, thereby growing the crop.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the non-transformed plant is a wild type plant of an identical genetic background.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the non-transformed plant is a wild type plant of the same species.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the non-transformed plant is grown under identical growth conditions.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and/or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the invention, exemplary methods and/or materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be necessarily limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the invention are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the modified pGI binary plasmid containing the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 9405) and the GUSintron (pQYN_6669) used for expressing the isolated polynucleotide sequences of the invention. RB—T-DNA right border; LB—T-DNA left border; MCS—Multiple cloning site; RE—any restriction enzyme; NOS pro=nopaline synthase promoter; NPT-II=neomycin phosphotransferase gene; NOS ter=nopaline synthase terminator; Poly-A signal (polyadenylation signal); GUSintron—the GUS reporter gene (coding sequence and intron).

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the modified pGI binary plasmid containing the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 9405) (pQFN, pQFNc) used for expressing the isolated polynucleotide sequences of the invention. RB—T-DNA right border; LB—T-DNA left border; MCS—Multiple cloning site; RE—any restriction enzyme; NOS pro=nopaline synthase promoter; NPT-II=neomycin phosphotransferase gene; NOS ter=nopaline synthase terminator; Poly-A signal (polyadenylation signal); GUSintron—the GUS reporter gene (coding sequence and intron). The isolated polynucleotide sequences of the invention were cloned into the MCS of the vector pQFNc.

FIGS. 3A-3F are images depicting visualization of root development of transgenic plants exogenously expressing the polynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention when grown in transparent agar plates under normal (FIGS. 3A-3B), osmotic stress (15% PEG; FIGS. 3C-3D) or nitrogen-limiting (FIGS. 3E-3F) conditions. The different transgenes were grown in transparent agar plates for 17 days (7 days nursery and 10 days after transplanting). The plates were photographed every 3-4 days starting at day 1 after transplanting. FIG. 3A—An image of a photograph of plants taken following 10 after transplanting days on agar plates when grown under normal (standard) conditions. FIG. 3B—An image of root analysis of the plants shown in FIG. 3A in which the lengths of the roots measured are represented by arrows. FIG. 3C—An image of a photograph of plants taken following 10 days after transplanting on agar plates, grown under high osmotic (PEG 15%) conditions. FIG. 3D—An image of root analysis of the plants shown in FIG. 3C in which the lengths of the roots measured are represented by arrows. FIG. 3E—An image of a photograph of plants taken following 10 days after transplanting on agar plates, grown under low nitrogen conditions. FIG. 3F—An image of root analysis of the plants shown in FIG. 3E in which the lengths of the roots measured are represented by arrows.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the modified pGI binary plasmid containing the Root Promoter (pQNa_RP; SEQ ID NO: 9417) used for expressing the isolated polynucleotide sequences of some embodiments of the invention. RB—T-DNA right border; LB—T-DNA left border; NOS pro=nopaline synthase promoter; NPT-II=neomycin phosphotransferase gene; NOS ter=nopaline synthase terminator; Poly-A signal (polyadenylation signal). The isolated polynucleotide sequences according to some embodiments of the invention were cloned into the MCS of the vector.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the pQYN plasmid (5714 bp).

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the pQFN plasmid (5967 bp).

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the pQFYN plasmid (8004 bp).

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of pQXNc plasmid, which is a modified pGI binary plasmid used for expressing the isolated polynucleotide sequences of some embodiments of the invention. RB—T-DNA right border; LB—T-DNA left border; NOS pro=nopaline synthase promoter; NPT-II=neomycin phosphotransferase gene; NOS ter=nopaline synthase terminator; RE=any restriction enzyme; Poly-A signal (polyadenylation signal); 35S—the 35S promoter (SEQ ID NO: 9401). The isolated polynucleotide sequences of some embodiments of the invention were cloned into the MCS (Multiple cloning site) of the vector.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to methods of increasing yield, biomass, vigor, growth rate, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency), water use efficiency fiber yield and/or quality of a plant, such as a wheat plant and to transgenic plants with increased yield, biomass, vigor, growth rate, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency), water use efficiency fiber yield and/or quality as compared to non-transformed plants.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details set forth in the following description or exemplified by the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

The present inventors have identified novel polypeptides and polynucleotides which can be used to increase yield, growth rate, biomass, oil content, vigor, fiber yield, fiber quality, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency) and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant.

Thus, as shown in the Examples section which follows, the present inventors have utilized bioinformatics tools to identify polynucleotides which enhance yield (e.g., seed yield, oil yield, oil content), growth rate, biomass, vigor, fiber yield, fiber quality, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency) and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant. Genes which affect the trait-of-interest were identified based on expression profiles of genes of several Sorghum, Maize, Barley, Brachypodium, Foxtail Millet, and Soybean accessions, varieties and tissues, homology with genes known to affect the trait-of-interest and using digital expression profile in specific tissues and conditions (Tables 1-52, Examples 1-11). Homologous polypeptides and polynucleotides (e.g., orthologous) having the same function were also identified (Table 53, Example 12). The identified genes were cloned (Example 13, Table 54) and transformed into Agrobacterium (Example 14) for the generation of transgenic plants (e.g., transgenic Arabidopsis, Brachypodium or wheat plants) transformed with the identified genes and with their homologues (Examples 15-17). Transgenic plants over-expressing the identified polynucleotides were evaluated for plant performance in greenhouse (Examples 18 and 19) and tissue culture (Example 20) experiments. Altogether, these results suggest the use of the novel polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention for increasing yield (including oil yield, seed yield and oil content), growth rate, biomass, vigor, fiber yield and/or quality, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency) and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant.

Thus, according to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided method of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency), fiber yield, fiber quality, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, or more say 100% homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796, thereby increasing the yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency) and/or abiotic stress of the plant.

As used herein the phrase “plant yield” refers to the amount (e.g., as determined by weight or size) or quantity (numbers) of tissues or organs produced per plant or per growing season. Hence increased yield could affect the economic benefit one can obtain from the plant in a certain growing area and/or growing time.

It should be noted that a plant yield can be affected by various parameters including, but not limited to, plant biomass; plant vigor; growth rate; seed yield; seed or grain quantity; seed or grain quality; oil yield; content of oil, starch and/or protein in harvested organs (e.g., seeds or vegetative parts of the plant); number of flowers (florets) per panicle (expressed as a ratio of number of filled seeds over number of primary panicles); harvest index; number of plants grown per area; number and size of harvested organs per plant and per area; number of plants per growing area (density); number of harvested organs in field; total leaf area; carbon assimilation and carbon partitioning (the distribution/allocation of carbon within the plant); resistance to shade; number of harvestable organs (e.g. seeds), seeds per pod, weight per seed; and modified architecture [such as increase stalk diameter, thickness or improvement of physical properties (e.g. elasticity)].

As used herein the phrase “seed yield” refers to the number or weight of the seeds per plant, seeds per pod, or per growing area or to the weight of a single seed, or to the oil extracted per seed. Hence seed yield can be affected by seed dimensions (e.g., length, width, perimeter, area and/or volume), number of (filled) seeds and seed filling rate and by seed oil content. Hence increase seed yield per plant could affect the economic benefit one can obtain from the plant in a certain growing area and/or growing time; and increase seed yield per growing area could be achieved by increasing seed yield per plant, and/or by increasing number of plants grown on the same given area.

The term “seed” (also referred to as “grain” or “kernel”) as used herein refers to a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat (usually with some stored food), the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant.

The phrase “oil content” as used herein refers to the amount of lipids in a given plant organ, either the seeds (seed oil content) or the vegetative portion of the plant (vegetative oil content) and is typically expressed as percentage of dry weight (10% humidity of seeds) or wet weight (for vegetative portion).

It should be noted that oil content is affected by intrinsic oil production of a tissue (e.g., seed, vegetative portion), as well as the mass or size of the oil-producing tissue per plant or per growth period.

In one embodiment, increase in oil content of the plant can be achieved by increasing the size/mass of a plant's tissue(s) which comprise oil per growth period. Thus, increased oil content of a plant can be achieved by increasing the yield, growth rate, biomass and vigor of the plant.

As used herein the phrase “plant biomass” refers to the amount (e.g., measured in grams of air-dry tissue) of a tissue produced from the plant in a growing season, which could also determine or affect the plant yield or the yield per growing area. An increase in plant biomass can be in the whole plant or in parts thereof such as aboveground (harvestable) parts, vegetative biomass, roots and seeds.

As used herein the phrase “growth rate” refers to the increase in plant organ/tissue size per time (can be measured in cm² per day).

As used herein the phrase “plant vigor” refers to the amount (measured by weight) of tissue produced by the plant in a given time. Hence increased vigor could determine or affect the plant yield or the yield per growing time or growing area. In addition, early vigor (seed and/or seedling) results in an improved field stand.

Improving early vigor is an important objective of modern rice breeding programs in both temperate and tropical rice cultivars. Long roots are important for proper soil anchorage in water-seeded rice. Where rice is sown directly into flooded fields, and where plants must emerge rapidly through water, longer shoots are associated with vigor. Where drill-seeding is practiced, longer mesocotyls and coleoptiles are important for good seedling emergence. The ability to engineer early vigor into plants would be of great importance in agriculture. For example, poor early vigor has been a limitation to the introduction of maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids based on Corn Belt germplasm in the European Atlantic.

It should be noted that a plant yield can be determined under stress (e.g., abiotic stress, nitrogen-limiting conditions) and/or non-stress (normal) conditions.

As used herein, the phrase “non-stress conditions” refers to the growth conditions (e.g., water, temperature, light-dark cycles, humidity, salt concentration, fertilizer concentration in soil, nutrient supply such as nitrogen, phosphorous and/or potassium), that do not significantly go beyond the everyday climatic and other abiotic conditions that plants may encounter, and which allow optimal growth, metabolism, reproduction and/or viability of a plant at any stage in its life cycle (e.g., in a crop plant from seed to a mature plant and back to seed again). Persons skilled in the art are aware of normal soil conditions and climatic conditions for a given plant in a given geographic location. It should be noted that while the non-stress conditions may include some mild variations from the optimal conditions (which vary from one type/species of a plant to another), such variations do not cause the plant to cease growing without the capacity to resume growth.

The phrase “abiotic stress” as used herein refers to any adverse effect on metabolism, growth, reproduction and/or viability of a plant. Accordingly, abiotic stress can be induced by suboptimal environmental growth conditions such as, for example, salinity, water deprivation, flooding, freezing, low or high temperature, heavy metal toxicity, anaerobiosis, nutrient deficiency, atmospheric pollution or UV irradiation. The implications of abiotic stress are discussed in the Background section.

The phrase “abiotic stress tolerance” as used herein refers to the ability of a plant to endure an abiotic stress without suffering a substantial alteration in metabolism, growth, productivity and/or viability.

Plants are subject to a range of environmental challenges. Several of these, including salt stress, general osmotic stress, drought stress and freezing stress, have the ability to impact whole plant and cellular water availability. Not surprisingly, then, plant responses to this collection of stresses are related. Zhu (2002) Ann. Rev. Plant Biol. 53: 247-273 et al. note that “most studies on water stress signaling have focused on salt stress primarily because plant responses to salt and drought are closely related and the mechanisms overlap”. Many examples of similar responses and pathways to this set of stresses have been documented. For example, the CBF transcription factors have been shown to condition resistance to salt, freezing and drought (Kasuga et al. (1999) Nature Biotech. 17: 287-291). The Arabidopsis rd29B gene is induced in response to both salt and dehydration stress, a process that is mediated largely through an ABA signal transduction process (Uno et al. (2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97: 11632-11637), resulting in altered activity of transcription factors that bind to an upstream element within the rd29B promoter. In Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (ice plant), Patharker and Cushman have shown that a calcium-dependent protein kinase (McCDPK1) is induced by exposure to both drought and salt stresses (Patharker and Cushman (2000) Plant J. 24: 679-691). The stress-induced kinase was also shown to phosphorylate a transcription factor, presumably altering its activity, although transcript levels of the target transcription factor are not altered in response to salt or drought stress. Similarly, Saijo et al. demonstrated that a rice salt/drought-induced calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (OsCDPK7) conferred increased salt and drought tolerance to rice when overexpressed (Saijo et al. (2000) Plant J. 23: 319-327).

Exposure to dehydration invokes similar survival strategies in plants as does freezing stress (see, for example, Yelenosky (1989) Plant Physiol 89: 444-451) and drought stress induces freezing tolerance (see, for example, Siminovitch et al. (1982) Plant Physiol 69: 250-255; and Guy et al. (1992) Planta 188: 265-270). In addition to the induction of cold-acclimation proteins, strategies that allow plants to survive in low water conditions may include, for example, reduced surface area, or surface oil or wax production. In another example increased solute content of the plant prevents evaporation and water loss due to heat, drought, salinity, osmoticum, and the like therefore providing a better plant tolerance to the above stresses.

It will be appreciated that some pathways involved in resistance to one stress (as described above), will also be involved in resistance to other stresses, regulated by the same or homologous genes. Of course, the overall resistance pathways are related, not identical, and therefore not all genes controlling resistance to one stress will control resistance to the other stresses. Nonetheless, if a gene conditions resistance to one of these stresses, it would be apparent to one skilled in the art to test for resistance to these related stresses. Methods of assessing stress resistance are further provided in the Examples section which follows.

As used herein the phrase “water use efficiency (WUE)” refers to the level of organic matter produced per unit of water consumed by the plant, i.e., the dry weight of a plant in relation to the plant's water use, e.g., the biomass produced per unit transpiration.

As used herein the phrase “fertilizer use efficiency” refers to the metabolic process(es) which lead to an increase in the plant's yield, biomass, vigor, and growth rate per fertilizer unit applied. The metabolic process can be the uptake, spread, absorbent, accumulation, relocation (within the plant) and use of one or more of the minerals and organic moieties absorbed by the plant, such as nitrogen, phosphates and/or potassium.

As used herein the phrase “fertilizer-limiting conditions” refers to growth conditions which include a level (e.g., concentration) of a fertilizer applied which is below the level needed for normal plant metabolism, growth, reproduction and/or viability.

As used herein the phrase “nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)” refers to the metabolic process(es) which lead to an increase in the plant's yield, biomass, vigor, and growth rate per nitrogen unit applied. The metabolic process can be the uptake, spread, absorbent, accumulation, relocation (within the plant) and use of nitrogen absorbed by the plant.

As used herein the phrase “nitrogen-limiting conditions” refers to growth conditions which include a level (e.g., concentration) of nitrogen (e.g., ammonium or nitrate) applied which is below the level needed for normal plant metabolism, growth, reproduction and/or viability.

Improved plant NUE and FUE is translated in the field into either harvesting similar quantities of yield, while implementing less fertilizers, or increased yields gained by implementing the same levels of fertilizers. Thus, improved NUE or FUE has a direct effect on plant yield in the field. Thus, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of some embodiments of the invention positively affect plant yield, seed yield, and plant biomass. In addition, the benefit of improved plant NUE will certainly improve crop quality and biochemical constituents of the seed such as protein yield and oil yield.

It should be noted that improved ABST will confer plants with improved vigor also under non-stress conditions, resulting in crops having improved biomass and/or yield e.g., elongated fibers for the cotton industry, higher oil content.

The term “fiber” is usually inclusive of thick-walled conducting cells such as vessels and tracheids and to fibrillar aggregates of many individual fiber cells. Hence, the term “fiber” refers to (a) thick-walled conducting and non-conducting cells of the xylem; (b) fibers of extraxylary origin, including those from phloem, bark, ground tissue, and epidermis; and (c) fibers from stems, leaves, roots, seeds, and flowers or inflorescences (such as those of Sorghum vulgare used in the manufacture of brushes and brooms).

Example of fiber producing plants, include, but are not limited to, agricultural crops such as cotton, silk cotton tree (Kapok, Ceiba pentandra), desert willow, creosote bush, winterfat, balsa, kenaf, roselle, jute, sisal abaca, flax, corn, sugar cane, hemp, ramie, kapok, coir, bamboo, spanish moss and Agave spp. (e.g. sisal).

As used herein the phrase “fiber quality” refers to at least one fiber parameter which is agriculturally desired, or required in the fiber industry (further described hereinbelow). Examples of such parameters, include but are not limited to, fiber length, fiber strength, fiber fitness, fiber weight per unit length, maturity ratio and uniformity (further described hereinbelow.

Cotton fiber (lint) quality is typically measured according to fiber length, strength and fineness. Accordingly, the lint quality is considered higher when the fiber is longer, stronger and finer.

As used herein the phrase “fiber yield” refers to the amount or quantity of fibers produced from the fiber producing plant.

As used herein the term “increasing” refers to at least about 2%, at least about 3%, at least about 4%, at least about 5%, at least about 10%, at least about 15%, at least about 20%, at least about 30%, at least about 40%, at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about 80%, increase in yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of a plant as compared to a native plant or a wild type plant [i.e., a plant not modified with the biomolecules (polynucleotide or polypeptides) of the invention, e.g., a non-transformed plant of the same species which is grown under the same (e.g., identical) growth conditions].

The phrase “expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide” as used herein refers to upregulating the expression level of an exogenous polynucleotide within the plant by introducing the exogenous polynucleotide into a plant cell or plant and expressing by recombinant means, as further described herein below.

As used herein “expressing” refers to expression at the mRNA and optionally polypeptide level.

As used herein, the phrase “exogenous polynucleotide” refers to a heterologous nucleic acid sequence which may not be naturally expressed within the plant (e.g., a nucleic acid sequence from a different species, e.g., a different plant species) or which overexpression in the plant is desired. The exogenous polynucleotide may be introduced into the plant in a stable or transient manner, so as to produce a ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule and/or a polypeptide molecule. It should be noted that the exogenous polynucleotide may comprise a nucleic acid sequence which is identical or partially homologous to an endogenous nucleic acid sequence of the plant.

The term “endogenous” as used herein refers to any polynucleotide or polypeptide which is present and/or naturally expressed within a plant or a cell thereof.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the exogenous polynucleotide of the invention comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, or more say 100% homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796.

Homologous sequences include both orthologous and paralogous sequences. The term “paralogous” relates to gene-duplications within the genome of a species leading to paralogous genes. The term “orthologous” relates to homologous genes in different organisms due to ancestral relationship.

One option to identify orthologues in monocot plant species is by performing a reciprocal blast search. This may be done by a first blast involving blasting the sequence-of-interest against any sequence database, such as the publicly available NCBI database which may be found at: Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) ncbi (dot) nlm (dot) nih (dot) gov. If orthologues in rice were sought, the sequence-of-interest would be blasted against, for example, the 28,469 full-length cDNA clones from Oryza sativa Nipponbare available at NCBI. The blast results may be filtered. The full-length sequences of either the filtered results or the non-filtered results are then blasted back (second blast) against the sequences of the organism from which the sequence-of-interest is derived. The results of the first and second blasts are then compared. An orthologue is identified when the sequence resulting in the highest score (best hit) in the first blast identifies in the second blast the query sequence (the original sequence-of-interest) as the best hit. Using the same rational a paralogue (homolog to a gene in the same organism) is found. In case of large sequence families, the ClustalW program may be used [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) ebi (dot) ac (dot) uk/Tools/clustalw2/index (dot) html], followed by a neighbor-joining tree (Hypertext Transfer Protocol://en (dot) Wikipedia (dot)org/wiki/Neighbor-joining) which helps visualizing the clustering.

Homology (e.g., percent homology, identity+similarity) can be determined using any homology comparison software computing a pairwise sequence alignment.

Identity (e.g., percent homology) can be determined using any homology comparison software, including for example, the BlastN software of the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI) such as by using default parameters.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the identity is a global identity, i.e., an identity over the entire amino acid or nucleic acid sequences of the invention and not over portions thereof.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the term “homology” or “homologous” refers to identity of two or more nucleic acid sequences; or identity of two or more amino acid sequences; or the identity of an amino acid sequence to one or more nucleic acid sequence.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the homology is a global homology, i.e., an homology over the entire amino acid or nucleic acid sequences of the invention and not over portions thereof.

The degree of homology or identity between two or more sequences can be determined using various known sequence comparison tools. Following is a non-limiting description of such tools which can be used along with some embodiments of the invention.

Pairwise global alignment was defined by S. B. Needleman and C. D. Wunsch, “A general method applicable to the search of similarities in the amino acid sequence of two proteins” Journal of Molecular Biology, 1970, pages 443-53, volume 48).

For example, when starting from a polypeptide sequence and comparing to other polypeptide sequences, the EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (available from http://emboss(dot)sourceforge(dot)net/apps/cvs/emboss/apps/needle(dot)html) can be used to find the optimum alignment (including gaps) of two sequences along their entire length—a “Global alignment”. Default parameters for Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (EMBOSS-6.0.1) include: gapopen=10; gapextend=0.5; datafile=EBLOSUM62; brief=YES.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the parameters used with the EMBOSS-6.0.1 tool (for protein-protein comparison) include: gapopen=8; gapextend=2; datafile=EBLOSUM62; brief=YES.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the threshold used to determine homology using the EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm is 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100%.

When starting from a polypeptide sequence and comparing to polynucleotide sequences, the OneModel FramePlus algorithm [Halperin, E., Faigler, S. and Gill-More, R. (1999)—FramePlus: aligning DNA to protein sequences. Bioinformatics, 15, 867-873) (available from http://www(dot)biocceleration(dot)com/Products(dot)html] can be used with following default parameters: model=frame+_p2n.model mode=local.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the parameters used with the OneModel FramePlus algorithm are model=frame+_p2n.model, mode=qglobal.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the threshold used to determine homology using the OneModel FramePlus algorithm is 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100%.

When starting with a polynucleotide sequence and comparing to other polynucleotide sequences the EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (available from http://emboss(dot)sourceforge(dot)net/apps/cvs/emboss/apps/needle(dot)html) can be used with the following default parameters: (EMBOSS-6.0.1) gapopen=10; gapextend=0.5; datafile=EDNAFULL; brief=YES.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the parameters used with the EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm are gapopen=10; gapextend=0.2; datafile=EDNAFULL; brief=YES.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the threshold used to determine homology using the EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm for comparison of polynucleotides with polynucleotides is 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100%.

According to some embodiment, determination of the degree of homology further requires employing the Smith-Waterman algorithm (for protein-protein comparison or nucleotide-nucleotide comparison).

Default parameters for GenCore 6.0 Smith-Waterman algorithm include: model=sw.model.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the threshold used to determine homology using the Smith-Waterman algorithm is 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100%.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the global homology is performed on sequences which are pre-selected by local homology to the polypeptide or polynucleotide of interest (e.g., 60% identity over 60% of the sequence length), prior to performing the global homology to the polypeptide or polynucleotide of interest (e.g., 80% global homology on the entire sequence). For example, homologous sequences are selected using the BLAST software with the Blastp and tBlastn algorithms as filters for the first stage, and the needle (EMBOSS package) or Frame+ algorithm alignment for the second stage. Local identity (Blast alignments) is defined with a very permissive cutoff—60% Identity on a span of 60% of the sequences lengths because it is used only as a filter for the global alignment stage. In this specific embodiment (when the local identity is used), the default filtering of the Blast package is not utilized (by setting the parameter “-F F”).

In the second stage, homologs are defined based on a global identity of at least 80% to the core gene polypeptide sequence.

According to some embodiments of the invention, two distinct forms for finding the optimal global alignment for protein or nucleotide sequences are used:

1. Between two proteins (following the blastp filter):

EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm with the following modified parameters: gapopen=8 gapextend=2. The rest of the parameters are unchanged from the default options listed here:

Standard (Mandatory) qualifiers:

[-asequence] sequence filename and optional format, or reference (input USA)

[-bsequence] seqall Sequence(s) filename and optional format, or reference (input USA)

-gapopen float [10.0 for any sequence]. The gap open penalty is the score taken away when a gap is created. The best value depends on the choice of comparison matrix. The default value assumes you are using the EBLOSUM62 matrix for protein sequences, and the EDNAFULL matrix for nucleotide sequences. (Floating point number from 1.0 to 100.0)

-gapextend float [0.5 for any sequence]. The gap extension, penalty is added to the standard gap penalty for each base or residue in the gap. This is how long gaps are penalized. Usually you will expect a few long gaps rather than many short gaps, so the gap extension penalty should be lower than the gap penalty. An exception is where one or both sequences are single reads with possible sequencing errors in which case you would expect many single base gaps. You can get this result by setting the gap open penalty to zero (or very low) and using the gap extension penalty to control gap scoring. (Floating point number from 0.0 to 10.0)

[-outfile] align [*.needle] Output alignment file name

Additional (Optional) Qualifiers:

-datafile matrixf [EBLOSUM62 for protein, EDNAFULL for DNA]. This is the scoring matrix file used when comparing sequences. By default it is the file ‘EBLOSUM62’ (for proteins) or the file ‘EDNAFULL’ (for nucleic sequences). These files are found in the ‘data’ directory of the EMBOSS installation.

Advanced (Unprompted) qualifiers:

-[no]brief boolean [Y] Brief identity and similarity Associated qualifiers:

“-asequence” associated qualifiers

-sbegin1 integer Start of the sequence to be used

-send1 integer End of the sequence to be used

-sreverse1 boolean Reverse (if DNA)

-sask1 boolean Ask for begin/end/reverse

-snucleotide1 boolean Sequence is nucleotide

-sprotein1 boolean Sequence is protein

-slower1 boolean Make lower case

-supper1 boolean Make upper case

-sformat1 string Input sequence format

-sdbname1 string Database name

-sid1 string Entryname

-ufo1 string UFO features

-fformat1 string Features format

-fopenfile1 string Features file name

“-bsequence” associated qualifiers

-sbegin2 integer Start of each sequence to be used

-send2 integer End of each sequence to be used

-sreverse2 boolean Reverse (if DNA)

-sask2 boolean Ask for begin/end/reverse

-snucleotide2 boolean Sequence is nucleotide

-sprotein2 boolean Sequence is protein

-slower2 boolean Make lower case

-supper2 boolean Make upper case

-sformat2 string Input sequence format

-sdbname2 string Database name

-sid2 string Entryname

-ufo2 string UFO features

-fformat2 string Features format

-fopenfile2 string Features file name

“-outfile” associated qualifiers

-aformat3 string Alignment format

-aextension3 string File name extension

-adirectory3 string Output directory

-aname3 string Base file name

-awidth3 integer Alignment width

-aaccshow3 boolean Show accession number in the header

-adesshow3 boolean Show description in the header

-ausashow3 boolean Show the full USA in the alignment

-aglobal3 boolean Show the full sequence in alignment

General Qualifiers:

-auto boolean Turn off prompts

-stdout boolean Write first file to standard output

-filter boolean Read first file from standard input, write first file to standard output

-options boolean Prompt for standard and additional values

-debug boolean Write debug output to program.dbg

-verbose boolean Report some/full command line options

-help boolean Report command line options. More information on associated and general qualifiers can be found with -help -verbose

-warning boolean Report warnings

-error boolean Report errors

-fatal boolean Report fatal errors

-die boolean Report dying program messages

2. Between a protein sequence and a nucleotide sequence (following the tblastn filter): GenCore 6.0 OneModel application utilizing the Frame+ algorithm with the following parameters: model=frame+_p2n.model mode=qglobal -q=protein.sequence -db=nucleotide.sequence. The rest of the parameters are unchanged from the default options:

Usage:

om -model=<model_fname>[-q=]query [-db=]database [options] -model=<model_fname> Specifies the model that you want to run. All models supplied by Compugen are located in the directory $CGNROOT/models/.

Valid Command Line Parameters:

-dev=<dev_name> Selects the device to be used by the application.

-   -   Valid devices are:         -   bic—Bioccelerator (valid for SW, XSW, FRAME_N2P, and             FRAME_P2N models).         -   xlg—BioXL/G (valid for all models except XSW).         -   xlp—BioXL/P (valid for SW, FRAME+_N2P, and FRAME_P2N             models).         -   xlh—BioXL/H (valid for SW, FRAME+_N2P, and FRAME_P2N             models).         -   soft—Software device (for all models).             -q=<query> Defines the query set. The query can be a             sequence file or a database reference. You can specify a             query by its name or by accession number. The format is             detected automatically. However, you may specify a format             using the -qfmt parameter. If you do not specify a query,             the program prompts for one. If the query set is a database             reference, an output file is produced for each sequence in             the query.             -db=<database name> Chooses the database set. The database             set can be a sequence file or a database reference. The             database format is detected automatically. However, you may             specify a format using -dfmt parameter.             -qacc Add this parameter to the command line if you specify             query using accession numbers.             -dacc Add this parameter to the command line if you specify             a database using accession numbers.             -dfmt/-qfmt=<format_type> Chooses the database/query format             type. Possible formats are:     -   fasta—fasta with seq type auto-detected.     -   fastap—fasta protein seq.     -   fastan—fasta nucleic seq.     -   gcg—gcg format, type is auto-detected.     -   gcg9seq—gcg9 format, type is auto-detected.     -   gcg9seqp—gcg9 format protein seq.     -   gcg9seqn—gcg9 format nucleic seq.     -   nbrf—nbrf seq, type is auto-detected.     -   nbrfp—nbrf protein seq.     -   nbrfn—nbrf nucleic seq.     -   embl—embl and swissprot format.     -   genbank—genbank format (nucleic).     -   blast—blast format.     -   nbrf_gcg—nbrf-gcg seq, type is auto-detected.     -   nbrf_gcgp—nbrf-gcg protein seq.     -   nbrf_gcgn—nbrf-gcg nucleic seq.     -   raw—raw ascii sequence, type is auto-detected.     -   rawp—raw ascii protein sequence.     -   rawn—raw ascii nucleic sequence.     -   pir—pir codata format, type is auto-detected.     -   profile—gcg profile (valid only for -qfmt     -   in SW, XSW, FRAME_P2N, and FRAME+_P2N).         -out=<out_fname> The name of the output file.         -suffix=<name> The output file name suffix.         -gapop=<n> Gap open penalty. This parameter is not valid for         FRAME+. For FrameSearch the default is 12.0. For other searches         the default is 10.0.         -gapext=<n> Gap extend penalty. This parameter is not valid for         FRAME+. For FrameSearch the default is 4.0. For other models:         the default for protein searches is 0.05, and the default for         nucleic searches is 1.0.         -qgapop=<n> The penalty for opening a gap in the query sequence.         The default is 10.0. Valid for XSW.         -qgapext=<n> The penalty for extending a gap in the query         sequence. The default is 0.05. Valid for XSW.         -start=<n> The position in the query sequence to begin the         search.         -end=<n> The position in the query sequence to stop the search.         -qtrans Performs a translated search, relevant for a nucleic         query against a protein database. The nucleic query is         translated to six reading frames and a result is given for each         frame.

Valid for SW and XSW.

-dtrans Performs a translated search, relevant for a protein query against a DNA database. Each database entry is translated to six reading frames and a result is given for each frame.

Valid for SW and XSW.

Note: “-qtrans” and “-dtrans” options are mutually exclusive. -matrix=<matrix_file> Specifies the comparison matrix to be used in the search. The matrix must be in the BLAST format. If the matrix file is not located in $CGNROOT/tables/matrix, specify the full path as the value of the -matrix parameter. -trans=<transtab_name> Translation table. The default location for the table is $CGNROOT/tables/trans. -onestrand Restricts the search to just the top strand of the query/database nucleic sequence. -list=<n> The maximum size of the output hit list. The default is 50. -docalign=<n> The number of documentation lines preceding each alignment. The default is 10. -thr_score=<score_name> The score that places limits on the display of results. Scores that are smaller than -thr_min value or larger than -thr_max value are not shown. Valid options are: quality.

-   -   zscore.     -   escore.         -thr_max=<n> The score upper threshold. Results that are larger         than -thr_max value are not shown.         -thr_min=<n> The score lower threshold. Results that are lower         than -thr_min value are not shown.         -align=<n> The number of alignments reported in the output file.         -noalign Do not display alignment.         Note: “-align” and “-noalign” parameters are mutually exclusive.         -outfmt=<format_name> Specifies the output format type. The         default format is PFS. Possible values are:     -   PFS—PFS text format     -   FASTA—FASTA text format     -   BLAST—BLAST text format         -nonorm Do not perform score normalization.         -norm=<norm_name> Specifies the normalization method. Valid         options are:     -   log—logarithm normalization.     -   std—standard normalization.     -   stat—Pearson statistical method.         Note: “-nonorm” and “-norm” parameters cannot be used together.         Note: Parameters -xgapop, -xgapext, -fgapop, -fgapext, -ygapop,         -ygapext, -delop, and -delext apply only to FRAME+.         -xgapop=<n> The penalty for opening a gap when inserting a codon         (triplet). The default is 12.0.         -xgapext=<n> The penalty for extending a gap when inserting a         codon (triplet). The default is 4.0.         -ygapop=<n> The penalty for opening a gap when deleting an amino         acid. The default is 12.0.         -ygapext=<n> The penalty for extending a gap when deleting an         amino acid. The default is 4.0.         -fgapop=<n> The penalty for opening a gap when inserting a DNA         base. The default is 6.0.         -fgapext=<n> The penalty for extending a gap when inserting a         DNA base. The default is 7.0.         -delop=<n> The penalty for opening a gap when deleting a DNA         base. The default is 6.0.         -delext=<n> The penalty for extending a gap when deleting a DNA         base. The default is 7.0.         -silent No screen output is produced.         -host=<host_name> The name of the host on which the server runs.         By default, the application uses the host specified in the file         $CGNROOT/cgnhosts.         -wait Do not go to the background when the device is busy. This         option is not relevant for the Parseq or Soft pseudo device.         -batch Run the job in the background. When this option is         specified, the file “$CGNROOT/defaults/batch.defaults” is used         for choosing the batch command. If this file does not exist, the         command “at now” is used to run the job.         Note: “-batch” and “-wait” parameters are mutually exclusive.         -version Prints the software version number.         -help Displays this help message. To get more specific help         type:     -   “om -model=<model_fname>-help”.

According to some embodiments the homology is a local homology or a local identity.

Local alignments tools include, but are not limited to the BlastP, BlastN, BlastX or TBLASTN software of the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI), FASTA, and the Smith-Waterman algorithm.

A tblastn search allows the comparison between a protein sequence and the six-frame translations of a nucleotide database. It can be a very productive way of finding homologous protein coding regions in unannotated nucleotide sequences such as expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and draft genome records (HTG), located in the BLAST databases est and htgs, respectively.

Default parameters for blastp include: Max target sequences: 100; Expected threshold: e⁻⁵; Word size: 3; Max matches in a query range: 0; Scoring parameters: Matrix—BLOSUM62; filters and masking: Filter—low complexity regions.

Local alignments tools, which can be used include, but are not limited to, the tBLASTX algorithm, which compares the six-frame conceptual translation products of a nucleotide query sequence (both strands) against a protein sequence database. Default parameters include: Max target sequences: 100; Expected threshold: 10; Word size: 3; Max matches in a query range: 0; Scoring parameters: Matrix—BLOSUM62; filters and masking: Filter—low complexity regions.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the exogenous polynucleotide of the invention encodes a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, or more say 100% identical to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency) and/or abiotic stress of a plant, is effected by expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide at least at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, or more say 100% identical to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796, thereby increasing the yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency) and/or abiotic stress of the plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the exogenous polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth by SEQ ID NO: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 or 9796.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, the method of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of a plant, is effected by expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796, thereby increasing the yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency) and/or abiotic stress of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796, thereby increasing the yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency) and/or abiotic stress of the plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the exogenous polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth by SEQ ID NO: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 or 9796.

According to some embodiments of the invention the exogenous polynucleotide comprises a nucleic acid sequence which is at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, e.g., 100% identical to the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of increasing yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, abiotic stress tolerance, and/or nitrogen use efficiency of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, e.g., 100% identical to the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752, thereby increasing the yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, abiotic stress tolerance, and/or nitrogen use efficiency of the plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention the exogenous polynucleotide is at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, e.g., 100% identical to the polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752.

According to some embodiments of the invention the exogenous polynucleotide is set forth by SEQ ID NO:1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 or 9752.

As used herein the term “polynucleotide” refers to a single or double stranded nucleic acid sequence which is isolated and provided in the form of an RNA sequence, a complementary polynucleotide sequence (cDNA), a genomic polynucleotide sequence and/or a composite polynucleotide sequences (e.g., a combination of the above).

The term “isolated” refers to at least partially separated from the natural environment, e.g., from a plant cell.

As used herein the phrase “complementary polynucleotide sequence” refers to a sequence, which results from reverse transcription of messenger RNA using a reverse transcriptase or any other RNA dependent DNA polymerase. Such a sequence can be subsequently amplified in vivo or in vitro using a DNA dependent DNA polymerase.

As used herein the phrase “genomic polynucleotide sequence” refers to a sequence derived (isolated) from a chromosome and thus it represents a contiguous portion of a chromosome.

As used herein the phrase “composite polynucleotide sequence” refers to a sequence, which is at least partially complementary and at least partially genomic. A composite sequence can include some exonal sequences required to encode the polypeptide of the present invention, as well as some intronic sequences interposing therebetween. The intronic sequences can be of any source, including of other genes, and typically will include conserved splicing signal sequences. Such intronic sequences may further include cis acting expression regulatory elements.

Nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptides of the present invention may be optimized for expression. Examples of such sequence modifications include, but are not limited to, an altered G/C content to more closely approach that typically found in the plant species of interest, and the removal of codons atypically found in the plant species commonly referred to as codon optimization.

The phrase “codon optimization” refers to the selection of appropriate DNA nucleotides for use within a structural gene or fragment thereof that approaches codon usage within the plant of interest. Therefore, an optimized gene or nucleic acid sequence refers to a gene in which the nucleotide sequence of a native or naturally occurring gene has been modified in order to utilize statistically-preferred or statistically-favored codons within the plant. The nucleotide sequence typically is examined at the DNA level and the coding region optimized for expression in the plant species determined using any suitable procedure, for example as described in Sardana et al. (1996, Plant Cell Reports 15:677-681). In this method, the standard deviation of codon usage, a measure of codon usage bias, may be calculated by first finding the squared proportional deviation of usage of each codon of the native gene relative to that of highly expressed plant genes, followed by a calculation of the average squared deviation. The formula used is: 1 SDCU=n=1 N [(Xn−Yn)/Yn]2/N, where Xn refers to the frequency of usage of codon n in highly expressed plant genes, where Yn to the frequency of usage of codon n in the gene of interest and N refers to the total number of codons in the gene of interest. A Table of codon usage from highly expressed genes of dicotyledonous plants is compiled using the data of Murray et al. (1989, Nuc Acids Res. 17:477-498).

One method of optimizing the nucleic acid sequence in accordance with the preferred codon usage for a particular plant cell type is based on the direct use, without performing any extra statistical calculations, of codon optimization Tables such as those provided on-line at the Codon Usage Database through the NIAS (National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences) DNA bank in Japan (Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) kazusa (dot) or (dot) jp/codon/). The Codon Usage Database contains codon usage tables for a number of different species, with each codon usage Table having been statistically determined based on the data present in Genbank.

By using the above Tables to determine the most preferred or most favored codons for each amino acid in a particular species (for example, rice), a naturally-occurring nucleotide sequence encoding a protein of interest can be codon optimized for that particular plant species. This is effected by replacing codons that may have a low statistical incidence in the particular species genome with corresponding codons, in regard to an amino acid, that are statistically more favored. However, one or more less-favored codons may be selected to delete existing restriction sites, to create new ones at potentially useful junctions (5′ and 3′ ends to add signal peptide or termination cassettes, internal sites that might be used to cut and splice segments together to produce a correct full-length sequence), or to eliminate nucleotide sequences that may negatively affect mRNA stability or expression.

The naturally-occurring encoding nucleotide sequence may already, in advance of any modification, contain a number of codons that correspond to a statistically-favored codon in a particular plant species. Therefore, codon optimization of the native nucleotide sequence may comprise determining which codons, within the native nucleotide sequence, are not statistically-favored with regards to a particular plant, and modifying these codons in accordance with a codon usage table of the particular plant to produce a codon optimized derivative. A modified nucleotide sequence may be fully or partially optimized for plant codon usage provided that the protein encoded by the modified nucleotide sequence is produced at a level higher than the protein encoded by the corresponding naturally occurring or native gene. Construction of synthetic genes by altering the codon usage is described in for example PCT Patent Application 93/07278.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the exogenous polynucleotide is a non-coding RNA.

As used herein the phrase ‘non-coding RNA” refers to an RNA molecule which does not encode an amino acid sequence (a polypeptide). Examples of such non-coding RNA molecules include, but are not limited to, an antisense RNA, a pre-miRNA (precursor of a microRNA), or a precursor of a Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA).

Non-limiting examples of non-coding RNA polynucleotides are provided in SEQ ID NOs: 921, 1425, 1938, 1939, 2110, 2208, 2257, 2296, 2297, 2309, 2445, 2729, 2844, 2918, 3306, 3310-3312, 3414, 3655-3657, 3834-3835, 3841, 3849, 3880-3881, 3892, 3902, 5070 and 5493.

According to some embodiments of the invention the exogenous polynucleotide comprises a nucleic acid sequence which is at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, e.g., 100% identical to the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a method of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency), and/or abiotic stress of a plant, comprising expressing within the plant an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, e.g., 100% identical to the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752, thereby increasing the yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency), and/or abiotic stress of the plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention the exogenous polynucleotide is at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, e.g., 100% identical to the polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752.

According to some embodiments of the invention the exogenous polynucleotide is set forth by SEQ ID NOs: 1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752.

As used herein the term “polynucleotide” refers to a single or double stranded nucleic acid sequence which is isolated and provided in the form of an RNA sequence, a complementary polynucleotide sequence (cDNA), a genomic polynucleotide sequence and/or a composite polynucleotide sequences (e.g., a combination of the above).

Thus, the invention encompasses nucleic acid sequences described hereinabove; fragments thereof, sequences hybridizable therewith, sequences homologous thereto, sequences encoding similar polypeptides with different codon usage, altered sequences characterized by mutations, such as deletion, insertion or substitution of one or more nucleotides, either naturally occurring or man induced, either randomly or in a targeted fashion.

The invention provides an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, e.g., 100% identical to the polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752.

According to some embodiments of the invention the nucleic acid sequence is capable of increasing yield, seed yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, fiber yield, fiber quality, abiotic stress tolerance and/or water use efficiency of a plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention the isolated polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752.

According to some embodiments of the invention the isolated polynucleotide is set forth by SEQ ID NOs: 1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752.

The invention provides an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide which comprises an amino acid sequence at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, or more say 100% homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796.

According to some embodiments of the invention the amino acid sequence is capable of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency), abiotic stress and/or water use efficiency of a plant.

The invention provides an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide which comprises the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a nucleic acid construct comprising the isolated polynucleotide of the invention, and a promoter for directing transcription of the nucleic acid sequence in a host cell.

The invention provides an isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, or more say 100% homologous to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 or 9796.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the polypeptide is set forth by SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796.

The invention also encompasses fragments of the above described polypeptides and polypeptides having mutations, such as deletions, insertions or substitutions of one or more amino acids, either naturally occurring or man induced, either randomly or in a targeted fashion.

The term “plant” as used herein encompasses whole plants, ancestors and progeny of the plants and plant parts, including seeds, shoots, stems, roots (including tubers), and plant cells, tissues and organs. The plant may be in any form including suspension cultures, embryos, meristematic regions, callus tissue, leaves, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen, and microspores. Plants that are particularly useful in the methods of the invention include all plants which belong to the superfamily Viridiplantae, in particular monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants including a fodder or forage legume, ornamental plant, food crop, tree, or shrub selected from the list comprising Acacia spp., Acer spp., Actinidia spp., Aesculus spp., Agathis australis, Albizia amara, Alsophila tricolor, Andropogon spp., Arachis spp, Areca catechu, Astelia fragrans, Astragalus cicer, Baikiaea plurijuga, Betula spp., Brassica spp., Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Burkea africana, Butea frondosa, Cadaba farinosa, Calliandra spp, Camellia sinensis, Canna indica, Capsicum spp., Cassia spp., Centroema pubescens, Chacoomeles spp., Cinnamomum cassia, Coffea arabica, Colophospermum mopane, Coronillia varia, Cotoneaster serotina, Crataegus spp., Cucumis spp., Cupressus spp., Cyathea dealbata, Cydonia oblonga, Cryptomeria japonica, Cymbopogon spp., Cynthea dealbata, Cydonia oblonga, Dalbergia monetaria, Davallia divaricata, Desmodium spp., Dicksonia squarosa, Dibeteropogon amplectens, Dioclea spp, Dolichos spp., Dorycnium rectum, Echinochloa pyramidalis, Ehraffia spp., Eleusine coracana, Eragrestis spp., Erythrina spp., Eucalypfus spp., Euclea schimperi, Eulalia vi/losa, Pagopyrum spp., Feijoa sellowlana, Fragaria spp., Flemingia spp, Freycinetia banksli, Geranium thunbergii, GinAgo biloba, Glycine javanica, Gliricidia spp, Gossypium hirsutum, Grevillea spp., Guibourtia coleosperma, Hedysarum spp., Hemaffhia altissima, Heteropogon contoffus, Hordeum vulgare, Hyparrhenia rufa, Hypericum erectum, Hypeffhelia dissolute, Indigo incamata, Iris spp., Leptarrhena pyrolifolia, Lespediza spp., Lettuca spp., Leucaena leucocephala, Loudetia simplex, Lotonus bainesli, Lotus spp., Macrotyloma axillare, Malus spp., Manihot esculenta, Medicago saliva, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Musa sapientum, Nicotianum spp., Onobrychis spp., Ornithopus spp., Oryza spp., Peltophorum africanum, Pennisetum spp., Persea gratissima, Petunia spp., Phaseolus spp., Phoenix canariensis, Phormium cookianum, Photinia spp., Picea glauca, Pinus spp., Pisum sativam, Podocarpus totara, Pogonarthria fleckii, Pogonaffhria squarrosa, Populus spp., Prosopis cineraria, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Pterolobium stellatum, Pyrus communis, Quercus spp., Rhaphiolepsis umbellata, Rhopalostylis sapida, Rhus natalensis, Ribes grossularia, Ribes spp., Robinia pseudoacacia, Rosa spp., Rubus spp., Salix spp., Schyzachyrium sanguineum, Sciadopitys vefficillata, Sequoia sempervirens, Sequoiadendron giganteum, Sorghum bicolor, Spinacia spp., Sporobolus fimbriatus, Stiburus alopecuroides, Stylosanthos humilis, Tadehagi spp, Taxodium distichum, Themeda triandra, Trifolium spp., Triticum spp., Tsuga heterophylla, Vaccinium spp., Vicia spp., Vitis vinifera, Watsonia pyramidata, Zantedeschia aethiopica, Zea mays, amaranth, artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, canola, carrot, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, flax, kale, lentil, oilseed rape, okra, onion, potato, rice, soybean, straw, sugar beet, sugar cane, sunflower, tomato, squash tea, maize, wheat, barley, rye, oat, peanut, pea, lentil and alfalfa, cotton, rapeseed, canola, pepper, sunflower, tobacco, eggplant, eucalyptus, a tree, an ornamental plant, a perennial grass and a forage crop. Alternatively algae and other non-Viridiplantae can be used for the methods of the present invention.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the plant used by the method of the invention is a crop plant such as rice, maize, wheat, barley, peanut, potato, sesame, olive tree, palm oil, banana, soybean, sunflower, canola, sugarcane, alfalfa, millet, leguminosae (bean, pea), flax, lupinus, rapeseed, tobacco, poplar and cotton.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the plant used by the method of the invention is wheat.

Non-limiting examples of wheat species which can be used according to some embodiments of the invention include Faller, Bobwhite, Mc Neal, Anshlag, KWS Aurum, KWS Scirocco and Azhurnaya.

According to some embodiments of the invention the plant is a dicotyledonous plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention the plant is a monocotyledonous plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, there is provided a plant cell exogenously expressing the polynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention and/or the polypeptide of some embodiments of the invention.

According to some embodiments of the invention, expressing the exogenous polynucleotide of the invention within the plant is effected by transforming one or more cells of the plant with the exogenous polynucleotide, followed by generating a mature plant from the transformed cells and cultivating the mature plant under conditions suitable for expressing the exogenous polynucleotide within the mature plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the transformation is effected by introducing to the plant cell a nucleic acid construct which includes the exogenous polynucleotide of some embodiments of the invention and at least one promoter for directing transcription of the exogenous polynucleotide in a host cell (a plant cell). Further details of suitable transformation approaches are provided hereinbelow.

As mentioned, the nucleic acid construct according to some embodiments of the invention comprises a promoter sequence and the isolated polynucleotide of the invention.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the isolated polynucleotide is operably linked to the promoter sequence.

A coding nucleic acid sequence is “operably linked” to a regulatory sequence (e.g., promoter) if the regulatory sequence is capable of exerting a regulatory effect on the coding sequence linked thereto.

As used herein, the term “promoter” refers to a region of DNA which lies upstream of the transcriptional initiation site of a gene to which RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription of RNA. The promoter controls where (e.g., which portion of a plant) and/or when (e.g., at which stage or condition in the lifetime of an organism) the gene is expressed.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the promoter is heterologous to the isolated polynucleotide and/or to the host cell.

As used herein the phrase “heterologous promoter” refers to a promoter from a different species or from the same species but from a different gene locus as of the isolated polynucleotide sequence.

Any suitable promoter sequence can be used by the nucleic acid construct of the present invention. Preferably the promoter is a constitutive promoter, a tissue-specific, or an abiotic stress-inducible promoter.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the promoter is a plant promoter, which is suitable for expression of the exogenous polynucleotide in a plant cell.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the promoter is a wheat promoter (i.e., a promoter which is suitable for expression in wheat plants).

Suitable promoters for expression in wheat include, but are not limited to, Wheat SPA promoter (SEQ ID NO: 9811; Albani et al, Plant Cell, 9: 171-184, 1997, which is fully incorporated herein by reference), wheat LMW [SEQ ID NO: 9806 (longer LMW promoter), and SEQ ID NO: 9807 (LMW promoter)] and HMW glutenin-1 [SEQ ID NO: 9804 (Wheat HMW glutenin-1 longer promoter); and SEQ ID NO: 9805 (Wheat HMW glutenin-1 Promoter); Thomas and Flavell, The Plant Cell 2:1171-1180; Furtado et al., 2009 Plant Biotechnology Journal 7:240-253, each of which is fully incorporated herein by reference], wheat alpha, beta and gamma gliadins [e.g., SEQ ID NO: 9812 (wheat alpha gliadin, B genome, promoter); SEQ ID NO: 9813 (wheat gamma gliadin promoter); EMBO 3:1409-15, 1984, which is fully incorporated herein by reference], wheat TdPR60 [SEQ ID NO:9809 (wheat TdPR60 longer promoter) or SEQ ID NO:9810 (wheat TdPR60 promoter); Kovalchuk et al., Plant Mol Biol 71:81-98, 2009, which is fully incorporated herein by reference], maize Ub1 Promoter [cultivar Nongda 105 (SEQ ID NO:9406); GenBank: DQ141598.1; Taylor et al., Plant Cell Rep 199312: 491-495, which is fully incorporated herein by reference; and cultivar B73 (SEQ ID NO:9409); Christensen, A H, et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 18 (4), 675-689 (1992), which is fully incorporated herein by reference]; rice actin 1 (SEQ ID NO:9407; Mc Elroy et al. 1990, The Plant Cell, Vol. 2, 163-171, which is fully incorporated herein by reference), rice GOS2 [SEQ ID NO: 9408 (rice GOS2 longer promoter) and SEQ ID NO: 9797 (rice GOS2 Promoter); De Pater et al. Plant J. 1992; 2: 837-44, which is fully incorporated herein by reference], Arabidopsis Pho1 [SEQ ID NO: 9418 (Arabidopsis Pho1 Promoter); Hamburger et al., Plant Cell. 2002; 14: 889-902, which is fully incorporated herein by reference], ExpansinB promoters, e.g., rice ExpB5 [SEQ ID NO:9799 (rice ExpB5 longer promoter) and SEQ ID NO: 9800 (rice ExpB5 promoter)] and Barley ExpB1 [SEQ ID NO: 9801 (barley ExpB1 Promoter), Won et al. Mol Cells. 2010; 30:369-76, which is fully incorporated herein by reference], barley SS2 (sucrose synthase 2) [(SEQ ID NO: 9808), Guerin and Carbonero, Plant Physiology May 1997 vol. 114 no. 155-62, which is fully incorporated herein by reference], and rice PG5a [SEQ ID NO:9803, U.S. Pat. No. 7,700,835, Nakase et al., Plant Mol Biol. 32:621-30, 1996, each of which is fully incorporated herein by reference].

Suitable constitutive promoters include, for example, CaMV 35S promoter [SEQ ID NO: 9401 (CaMV 35S (QFNC) Promoter); SEQ ID NO: 9402 (PJJ 35S from Brachypodium); SEQ ID NO: 9403 (CaMV 35S (OLD) Promoter) (Odell et al., Nature 313:810-812, 1985)], Arabidopsis At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 9404 (Arabidopsis At6669 (OLD) Promoter); see PCT Publication No. WO04081173A2 or the new At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 9405 (Arabidopsis At6669 (NEW) Promoter)); maize Ub1 Promoter [cultivar Nongda 105 (SEQ ID NO:9406); GenBank: DQ141598.1; Taylor et al., Plant Cell Rep 199312: 491-495, which is fully incorporated herein by reference; and cultivar B73 (SEQ ID NO:9409); Christensen, A H, et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 18 (4), 675-689 (1992), which is fully incorporated herein by reference]; rice actin 1 (SEQ ID NO: 9407, McElroy et al., Plant Cell 2:163-171, 1990); pEMU (Last et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. 81:581-588, 1991); CaMV 19S (Nilsson et al., Physiol. Plant 100:456-462, 1997); rice GOS2 [SEQ ID NO: 9408 (rice GOS2 longer Promoter) and SEQ ID NO: 9797 (rice GOS2 Promoter), de Pater et al, Plant J November; 2(6):837-44, 1992]; RBCS promoter (SEQ ID NO:9410); Rice cyclophilin (Bucholz et al, Plant Mol Biol. 25(5):837-43, 1994); Maize H3 histone (Lepetit et al, Mol. Gen. Genet. 231: 276-285, 1992); Actin 2 (An et al, Plant J. 10(1); 107-121, 1996) and Synthetic Super MAS (Ni et al., The Plant Journal 7: 661-76, 1995). Other constitutive promoters include those in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,659,026, 5,608,149; 5,608,144; 5,604,121; 5,569,597: 5,466,785; 5,399,680; 5,268,463; and 5,608,142.

Suitable tissue-specific promoters include, but not limited to, leaf-specific promoters [e.g., AT5G06690 (Thioredoxin) (high expression, SEQ ID NO: 9411), AT5G61520 (AtSTP3) (low expression, SEQ ID NO: 9412) described in Buttner et al 2000 Plant, Cell and Environment 23, 175-184, or the promoters described in Yamamoto et al., Plant J. 12:255-265, 1997; Kwon et al., Plant Physiol. 105:357-67, 1994; Yamamoto et al., Plant Cell Physiol. 35:773-778, 1994; Gotor et al., Plant J. 3:509-18, 1993; Orozco et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 23:1129-1138, 1993; and Matsuoka et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:9586-9590, 1993; as well as Arabidopsis STP3 (AT5G61520) promoter (Buttner et al., Plant, Cell and Environment 23:175-184, 2000)], seed-preferred promoters [e.g., Napin (originated from Brassica napus which is characterized by a seed specific promoter activity; Stuitje A. R. et. al. Plant Biotechnology Journal 1 (4): 301-309; SEQ ID NO: 9413 (Brassica napus NAPIN Promoter) from seed specific genes (Simon, et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 5. 191, 1985; Scofield, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262: 12202, 1987; Baszczynski, et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 14: 633, 1990), rice PG5a (SEQ ID NO: 9803; U.S. Pat. No. 7,700,835), early seed development Arabidopsis BAN (AT1G61720) (SEQ ID NO: 9414, US 2009/0031450 A1), late seed development Arabidopsis ABI3 (AT3G24650) (SEQ ID NOs: 9415 (Arabidopsis ABI3 (AT3G24650) longer Promoter) or 9802 (Arabidopsis ABI3 (AT3G24650) Promoter)) (Ng et al., Plant Molecular Biology 54: 25-38, 2004), Brazil Nut albumin (Pearson' et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 18: 235-245, 1992), legumin (Ellis, et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 10: 203-214, 1988), Glutelin (rice) (Takaiwa, et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 208: 15-22, 1986; Takaiwa, et al., FEBS Letts. 221: 43-47, 1987), Zein (Matzke et al Plant Mol Biol, 143).323-321990), napA (Stalberg, et al, Planta 199: 515-519, 1996), Wheat SPA (SEQ ID NO:9811; Albani et al, Plant Cell, 9: 171-184, 1997), sunflower oleosin (Cummins, et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 19: 873-876, 1992)], endosperm specific promoters [e.g., wheat LMW (SEQ ID NO: 9806 (Wheat LMW Longer Promoter), and SEQ ID NO: 9807 (Wheat LMW Promoter) and HMW glutenin-1 [(SEQ ID NO: 9804 (Wheat HMW glutenin-1 longer Promoter)); and SEQ ID NO: 9805 (Wheat HMW glutenin-1 Promoter), Thomas and Flavell, The Plant Cell 2:1171-1180, 1990; Mol Gen Genet 216:81-90, 1989; NAR 17:461-2), wheat alpha, beta and gamma gliadins (SEQ ID NO: 9812 (wheat alpha gliadin (B genome) promoter); SEQ ID NO: 9813 (wheat gamma gliadin promoter); EMBO 3:1409-15, 1984), Barley ltrl promoter, barley B1, C, D hordein (Theor Appl Gen 98:1253-62, 1999; Plant J 4:343-55, 1993; Mol Gen Genet 250:750-60, 1996), Barley DOF (Mena et al, The Plant Journal, 116(1): 53-62, 1998), Biz2 (EP99106056.7), Barley SS2 (SEQ ID NO: 9808 (Barley SS2 Promoter); Guerin and Carbonero Plant Physiology 114: 155-62, 1997), wheat TdPR60 [SEQ ID NO:9809 (wheat TdPR60 longer promoter) or SEQ ID NO:9810 (wheat TdPR60 promoter); Kovalchuk et al., Plant Mol Biol 71:81-98, 2009, which is fully incorporated herein by reference], barley D-hordein (D-Hor) and B-hordein (B-Hor) (Agnelo Furtado, Robert J. Henry and Alessandro Pellegrineschi (2009)], Synthetic promoter (Vicente-Carbajosa et al., Plant J. 13: 629-640, 1998), rice prolamin NRP33, rice -globulin Glb-1 (Wu et al, Plant Cell Physiology 39(8) 885-889, 1998), rice alpha-globulin REB/OHP-1 (Nakase et al. Plant Mol. Biol. 33: 513-S22, 1997), rice ADP-glucose PP (Trans Res 6:157-68, 1997), maize ESR gene family (Plant J 12:235-46, 1997), sorgum gamma-kafirin (PMB 32:1029-35, 1996)], embryo specific promoters [e.g., rice OSHI (Sato et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 93: 8117-8122), KNOX (Postma-Haarsma et al, Plant Mol. Biol. 39:257-71, 1999), rice oleosin (Wu et at, J. Biochem., 123:386, 1998)], and flower-specific promoters [e.g., AtPRP4, chalene synthase (chsA) (Van der Meer, et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 15, 95-109, 1990), LAT52 (Twell et al Mol. Gen Genet. 217:240-245; 1989), Arabidopsis apetala-3 (Tilly et al., Development. 125:1647-57, 1998), Arabidopsis APETALA 1 (AT1G69120, API) (SEQ ID NO: 9416 (Arabidopsis (AT1G69120) APETALA 1)) (Hempel et al., Development 124:3845-3853, 1997)], and root promoters [e.g., the ROOTP promoter [SEQ ID NO: 9417]; rice ExpB5 (SEQ ID NO:9800 (rice ExpB5 Promoter); or SEQ ID NO: 9799 (rice ExpB5 longer Promoter)) and barley ExpB1 promoters (SEQ ID NO:9801) (Won et al. Mol. Cells 30: 369-376, 2010); Arabidopsis ATTPS-CIN (AT3G25820) promoter (SEQ ID NO: 9798; Chen et al., Plant Phys 135:1956-66, 2004); Arabidopsis Pho1 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 9418, Hamburger et al., Plant Cell. 14: 889-902, 2002), which is also slightly induced by stress].

Suitable abiotic stress-inducible promoters include, but not limited to, salt-inducible promoters such as RD29A (Yamaguchi-Shinozalei et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 236:331-340, 1993); drought-inducible promoters such as maize rab17 gene promoter (Pla et. al., Plant Mol. Biol. 21:259-266, 1993), maize rab28 gene promoter (Busk et. al., Plant J. 11:1285-1295, 1997) and maize Ivr2 gene promoter (Pelleschi et. al., Plant Mol. Biol. 39:373-380, 1999); heat-inducible promoters such as heat tomato hsp80-promoter from tomato (U.S. Pat. No. 5,187,267).

The nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention can further include an appropriate selectable marker and/or an origin of replication. According to some embodiments of the invention, the nucleic acid construct utilized is a shuttle vector, which can propagate both in E. coli (wherein the construct comprises an appropriate selectable marker and origin of replication) and be compatible with propagation in cells. The construct according to the present invention can be, for example, a plasmid, a bacmid, a phagemid, a cosmid, a phage, a virus or an artificial chromosome.

The nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention can be utilized to stably or transiently transform plant cells. In stable transformation, the exogenous polynucleotide is integrated into the plant genome and as such it represents a stable and inherited trait. In transient transformation, the exogenous polynucleotide is expressed by the cell transformed but it is not integrated into the genome and as such it represents a transient trait.

There are various methods of introducing foreign genes into both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants (Potrykus, I., Annu. Rev. Plant. Physiol., Plant. Mol. Biol. (1991) 42:205-225; Shimamoto et al., Nature (1989) 338:274-276).

The principle methods of causing stable integration of exogenous DNA into plant genomic DNA include two main approaches:

(i) Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer: Klee et al. (1987) Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. 38:467-486; Klee and Rogers in Cell Culture and Somatic Cell Genetics of Plants, Vol. 6, Molecular Biology of Plant Nuclear Genes, eds. Schell, J., and Vasil, L. K., Academic Publishers, San Diego, Calif. (1989) p. 2-25; Gatenby, in Plant Biotechnology, eds. Kung, S. and Arntzen, C. J., Butterworth Publishers, Boston, Mass. (1989) p. 93-112.

(ii) Direct DNA uptake: Paszkowski et al., in Cell Culture and Somatic Cell Genetics of Plants, Vol. 6, Molecular Biology of Plant Nuclear Genes eds. Schell, J., and Vasil, L. K., Academic Publishers, San Diego, Calif. (1989) p. 52-68; including methods for direct uptake of DNA into protoplasts, Toriyama, K. et al. (1988) Bio/Technology 6:1072-1074. DNA uptake induced by brief electric shock of plant cells: Zhang et al. Plant Cell Rep. (1988) 7:379-384. Fromm et al. Nature (1986) 319:791-793. DNA injection into plant cells or tissues by particle bombardment, Klein et al. Bio/Technology (1988) 6:559-563; McCabe et al. Bio/Technology (1988) 6:923-926; Sanford, Physiol. Plant. (1990) 79:206-209; by the use of micropipette systems: Neuhaus et al., Theor. Appl. Genet. (1987) 75:30-36; Neuhaus and Spangenberg, Physiol. Plant. (1990) 79:213-217; glass fibers or silicon carbide whisker transformation of cell cultures, embryos or callus tissue, U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,765 or by the direct incubation of DNA with germinating pollen, DeWet et al. in Experimental Manipulation of Ovule Tissue, eds. Chapman, G. P. and Mantell, S. H. and Daniels, W. Longman, London, (1985) p. 197-209; and Ohta, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1986) 83:715-719.

The Agrobacterium system includes the use of plasmid vectors that contain defined DNA segments that integrate into the plant genomic DNA. Methods of inoculation of the plant tissue vary depending upon the plant species and the Agrobacterium delivery system. A widely used approach is the leaf disc procedure which can be performed with any tissue explant that provides a good source for initiation of whole plant differentiation. See, e.g., Horsch et al. in Plant Molecular Biology Manual A5, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht (1988) p. 1-9. A supplementary approach employs the Agrobacterium delivery system in combination with vacuum infiltration. The Agrobacterium system is especially viable in the creation of transgenic dicotyledonous plants.

There are various methods of direct DNA transfer into plant cells. In electroporation, the protoplasts are briefly exposed to a strong electric field. In microinjection, the DNA is mechanically injected directly into the cells using very small micropipettes. In microparticle bombardment, the DNA is adsorbed on microprojectiles such as magnesium sulfate crystals or tungsten particles, and the microprojectiles are physically accelerated into cells or plant tissues.

Following stable transformation plant propagation is exercised. The most common method of plant propagation is by seed. Regeneration by seed propagation, however, has the deficiency that due to heterozygosity there is a lack of uniformity in the crop, since seeds are produced by plants according to the genetic variances governed by Mendelian rules. Basically, each seed is genetically different and each will grow with its own specific traits. Therefore, it is preferred that the transformed plant be produced such that the regenerated plant has the identical traits and characteristics of the parent transgenic plant. Therefore, it is preferred that the transformed plant be regenerated by micropropagation which provides a rapid, consistent reproduction of the transformed plants.

Micropropagation is a process of growing new generation plants from a single piece of tissue that has been excised from a selected parent plant or cultivar. This process permits the mass reproduction of plants having the preferred tissue expressing the fusion protein. The new generation plants which are produced are genetically identical to, and have all of the characteristics of, the original plant. Micropropagation allows mass production of quality plant material in a short period of time and offers a rapid multiplication of selected cultivars in the preservation of the characteristics of the original transgenic or transformed plant. The advantages of cloning plants are the speed of plant multiplication and the quality and uniformity of plants produced.

Micropropagation is a multi-stage procedure that requires alteration of culture medium or growth conditions between stages. Thus, the micropropagation process involves four basic stages: Stage one, initial tissue culturing; stage two, tissue culture multiplication; stage three, differentiation and plant formation; and stage four, greenhouse culturing and hardening. During stage one, initial tissue culturing, the tissue culture is established and certified contaminant-free. During stage two, the initial tissue culture is multiplied until a sufficient number of tissue samples are produced to meet production goals. During stage three, the tissue samples grown in stage two are divided and grown into individual plantlets. At stage four, the transformed plantlets are transferred to a greenhouse for hardening where the plants' tolerance to light is gradually increased so that it can be grown in the natural environment.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the transgenic plants are generated by transient transformation of leaf cells, meristematic cells or the whole plant.

Transient transformation can be effected by any of the direct DNA transfer methods described above or by viral infection using modified plant viruses.

Viruses that have been shown to be useful for the transformation of plant hosts include CaMV, Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), brome mosaic virus (BMV) and Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BV or BCMV). Transformation of plants using plant viruses is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,237 (bean golden mosaic virus; BGV), EP-A 67,553 (TMV), Japanese Published Application No. 63-14693 (TMV), EPA 194,809 (BV), EPA 278,667 (BV); and Gluzman, Y. et al., Communications in Molecular Biology: Viral Vectors, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, pp. 172-189 (1988). Pseudovirus particles for use in expressing foreign DNA in many hosts, including plants are described in WO 87/06261.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the virus used for transient transformations is avirulent and thus is incapable of causing severe symptoms such as reduced growth rate, mosaic, ring spots, leaf roll, yellowing, streaking, pox formation, tumor formation and pitting. A suitable avirulent virus may be a naturally occurring avirulent virus or an artificially attenuated virus. Virus attenuation may be effected by using methods well known in the art including, but not limited to, sub-lethal heating, chemical treatment or by directed mutagenesis techniques such as described, for example, by Kurihara and Watanabe (Molecular Plant Pathology 4:259-269, 2003), Gal-on et al. (1992), Atreya et al. (1992) and Huet et al. (1994).

Suitable virus strains can be obtained from available sources such as, for example, the American Type culture Collection (ATCC) or by isolation from infected plants. Isolation of viruses from infected plant tissues can be effected by techniques well known in the art such as described, for example by Foster and Tatlor, Eds. “Plant Virology Protocols: From Virus Isolation to Transgenic Resistance (Methods in Molecular Biology (Humana Pr), Vol 81)”, Humana Press, 1998. Briefly, tissues of an infected plant believed to contain a high concentration of a suitable virus, preferably young leaves and flower petals, are ground in a buffer solution (e.g., phosphate buffer solution) to produce a virus infected sap which can be used in subsequent inoculations.

Construction of plant RNA viruses for the introduction and expression of non-viral exogenous polynucleotide sequences in plants is demonstrated by the above references as well as by Dawson, W. O. et al., Virology (1989) 172:285-292; Takamatsu et al. EMBO J. (1987) 6:307-311; French et al. Science (1986) 231:1294-1297; Takamatsu et al. FEBS Letters (1990) 269:73-76; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,931.

When the virus is a DNA virus, suitable modifications can be made to the virus itself. Alternatively, the virus can first be cloned into a bacterial plasmid for ease of constructing the desired viral vector with the foreign DNA. The virus can then be excised from the plasmid. If the virus is a DNA virus, a bacterial origin of replication can be attached to the viral DNA, which is then replicated by the bacteria. Transcription and translation of this DNA will produce the coat protein which encapsidates the viral DNA. If the virus is an RNA virus, the virus is generally cloned as a cDNA and inserted into a plasmid. The plasmid is then used to make all of the constructions. The RNA virus is then produced by transcribing the viral sequence of the plasmid and translation of the viral genes to produce the coat protein(s) which encapsidate the viral RNA.

In one embodiment, a plant viral polynucleotide is provided in which the native coat protein coding sequence has been deleted from a viral polynucleotide, a non-native plant viral coat protein coding sequence and a non-native promoter, preferably the subgenomic promoter of the non-native coat protein coding sequence, capable of expression in the plant host, packaging of the recombinant plant viral polynucleotide, and ensuring a systemic infection of the host by the recombinant plant viral polynucleotide, has been inserted. Alternatively, the coat protein gene may be inactivated by insertion of the non-native polynucleotide sequence within it, such that a protein is produced. The recombinant plant viral polynucleotide may contain one or more additional non-native subgenomic promoters. Each non-native subgenomic promoter is capable of transcribing or expressing adjacent genes or polynucleotide sequences in the plant host and incapable of recombination with each other and with native subgenomic promoters. Non-native (foreign) polynucleotide sequences may be inserted adjacent the native plant viral subgenomic promoter or the native and a non-native plant viral subgenomic promoters if more than one polynucleotide sequence is included. The non-native polynucleotide sequences are transcribed or expressed in the host plant under control of the subgenomic promoter to produce the desired products.

In a second embodiment, a recombinant plant viral polynucleotide is provided as in the first embodiment except that the native coat protein coding sequence is placed adjacent one of the non-native coat protein subgenomic promoters instead of a non-native coat protein coding sequence.

In a third embodiment, a recombinant plant viral polynucleotide is provided in which the native coat protein gene is adjacent its subgenomic promoter and one or more non-native subgenomic promoters have been inserted into the viral polynucleotide. The inserted non-native subgenomic promoters are capable of transcribing or expressing adjacent genes in a plant host and are incapable of recombination with each other and with native subgenomic promoters. Non-native polynucleotide sequences may be inserted adjacent the non-native subgenomic plant viral promoters such that the sequences are transcribed or expressed in the host plant under control of the subgenomic promoters to produce the desired product.

In a fourth embodiment, a recombinant plant viral polynucleotide is provided as in the third embodiment except that the native coat protein coding sequence is replaced by a non-native coat protein coding sequence.

The viral vectors are encapsidated by the coat proteins encoded by the recombinant plant viral polynucleotide to produce a recombinant plant virus. The recombinant plant viral polynucleotide or recombinant plant virus is used to infect appropriate host plants. The recombinant plant viral polynucleotide is capable of replication in the host, systemic spread in the host, and transcription or expression of foreign gene(s) (exogenous polynucleotide) in the host to produce the desired protein.

Techniques for inoculation of viruses to plants may be found in Foster and Taylor, eds. “Plant Virology Protocols: From Virus Isolation to Transgenic Resistance (Methods in Molecular Biology (Humana Pr), Vol 81)”, Humana Press, 1998; Maramorosh and Koprowski, eds. “Methods in Virology” 7 vols, Academic Press, New York 1967-1984; Hill, S. A. “Methods in Plant Virology”, Blackwell, Oxford, 1984; Walkey, D. G. A. “Applied Plant Virology”, Wiley, New York, 1985; and Kado and Agrawa, eds. “Principles and Techniques in Plant Virology”, Van Nostrand-Reinhold, New York.

In addition to the above, the polynucleotide of the present invention can also be introduced into a chloroplast genome thereby enabling chloroplast expression.

A technique for introducing exogenous polynucleotide sequences to the genome of the chloroplasts is known. This technique involves the following procedures. First, plant cells are chemically treated so as to reduce the number of chloroplasts per cell to about one. Then, the exogenous polynucleotide is introduced via particle bombardment into the cells with the aim of introducing at least one exogenous polynucleotide molecule into the chloroplasts. The exogenous polynucleotides selected such that it is integratable into the chloroplast's genome via homologous recombination which is readily effected by enzymes inherent to the chloroplast. To this end, the exogenous polynucleotide includes, in addition to a gene of interest, at least one polynucleotide stretch which is derived from the chloroplast's genome. In addition, the exogenous polynucleotide includes a selectable marker, which serves by sequential selection procedures to ascertain that all or substantially all of the copies of the chloroplast genomes following such selection will include the exogenous polynucleotide. Further details relating to this technique are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,945,050; and 5,693,507 which are incorporated herein by reference. A polypeptide can thus be produced by the protein expression system of the chloroplast and become integrated into the chloroplast's inner membrane.

Since processes which increase yield, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, fiber length, growth rate, biomass, vigor, nitrogen use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, oil content, and/or abiotic stress tolerance of a plant can involve multiple genes acting additively or in synergy (see, for example, in Quesda et al., Plant Physiol. 130:951-063, 2002), the present invention also envisages expressing a plurality of exogenous polynucleotides in a single host plant to thereby achieve superior effect on oil content, yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor and/or abiotic stress tolerance.

Expressing a plurality of exogenous polynucleotides in a single host plant can be effected by co-introducing multiple nucleic acid constructs, each including a different exogenous polynucleotide, into a single plant cell. The transformed cell can then be regenerated into a mature plant using the methods described hereinabove.

Alternatively, expressing a plurality of exogenous polynucleotides in a single host plant can be effected by co-introducing into a single plant-cell a single nucleic-acid construct including a plurality of different exogenous polynucleotides. Such a construct can be designed with a single promoter sequence which can transcribe a polycistronic messenger RNA including all the different exogenous polynucleotide sequences. To enable co-translation of the different polypeptides encoded by the polycistronic messenger RNA, the polynucleotide sequences can be inter-linked via an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequence which facilitates translation of polynucleotide sequences positioned downstream of the IRES sequence. In this case, a transcribed polycistronic RNA molecule encoding the different polypeptides described above will be translated from both the capped 5′ end and the two internal IRES sequences of the polycistronic RNA molecule to thereby produce in the cell all different polypeptides. Alternatively, the construct can include several promoter sequences each linked to a different exogenous polynucleotide sequence.

The plant cell transformed with the construct including a plurality of different exogenous polynucleotides, can be regenerated into a mature plant, using the methods described hereinabove.

Alternatively, expressing a plurality of exogenous polynucleotides in a single host plant can be effected by introducing different nucleic acid constructs, including different exogenous polynucleotides, into a plurality of plants. The regenerated transformed plants can then be cross-bred and resultant progeny selected for superior abiotic stress tolerance, water use efficiency, fertilizer use efficiency, growth, biomass, yield and/or vigor traits, using conventional plant breeding techniques.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprising growing the plant expressing the exogenous polynucleotide under the abiotic stress.

Non-limiting examples of abiotic stress conditions include, salinity, osmotic stress, drought, water deprivation, excess of water (e.g., flood, waterlogging), etiolation, low temperature, high temperature, heavy metal toxicity, anaerobiosis, nutrient deficiency, nutrient excess, atmospheric pollution and UV irradiation.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the method further comprising growing the plant expressing the exogenous polynucleotide under fertilizer limiting conditions (e.g., nitrogen-limiting conditions). Non-limiting examples include growing the plant on soils with low nitrogen content (40-50% Nitrogen of the content present under normal or optimal conditions), or even under sever nitrogen deficiency (0-10% Nitrogen of the content present under normal or optimal conditions).

Thus, the invention encompasses plants exogenously expressing the polynucleotide(s), the nucleic acid constructs and/or polypeptide(s) of the invention.

Once expressed within the plant cell or the entire plant, the level of the polypeptide encoded by the exogenous polynucleotide can be determined by methods well known in the art such as, activity assays, Western blots using antibodies capable of specifically binding the polypeptide, Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA), radio-immuno-assays (RIA), immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence and the like.

Methods of determining the level in the plant of the RNA transcribed from the exogenous polynucleotide are well known in the art and include, for example, Northern blot analysis, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis (including quantitative, semi-quantitative or real-time RT-PCR) and RNA—in situ hybridization.

The sequence information and annotations uncovered by the present teachings can be harnessed in favor of classical breeding. Thus, sub-sequence data of those polynucleotides described above, can be used as markers for marker assisted selection (MAS), in which a marker is used for indirect selection of a genetic determinant or determinants of a trait of interest (e.g., biomass, growth rate, oil content, yield, abiotic stress tolerance, water use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency and/or fertilizer use efficiency). Nucleic acid data of the present teachings (DNA or RNA sequence) may contain or be linked to polymorphic sites or genetic markers on the genome such as restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), DNA fingerprinting (DFP), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), expression level polymorphism, polymorphism of the encoded polypeptide and any other polymorphism at the DNA or RNA sequence.

Examples of marker assisted selections include, but are not limited to, selection for a morphological trait (e.g., a gene that affects form, coloration, male sterility or resistance such as the presence or absence of awn, leaf sheath coloration, height, grain color, aroma of rice); selection for a biochemical trait (e.g., a gene that encodes a protein that can be extracted and observed; for example, isozymes and storage proteins); selection for a biological trait (e.g., pathogen races or insect biotypes based on host pathogen or host parasite interaction can be used as a marker since the genetic constitution of an organism can affect its susceptibility to pathogens or parasites).

The polynucleotides and polypeptides described hereinabove can be used in a wide range of economical plants, in a safe and cost effective manner.

Plant lines exogenously expressing the polynucleotide or the polypeptide of the invention are screened to identify those that show the greatest increase of the desired plant trait.

Thus, according to an additional embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of evaluating a trait of a plant, the method comprising: (a) expressing in a plant or a portion thereof the nucleic acid construct of some embodiments of the invention; and (b) evaluating a trait of a plant as compared to a wild type plant of the same type (e.g., a plant not transformed with the claimed biomolecules); thereby evaluating the trait of the plant.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention there is provided a method of producing a crop comprising growing a crop of a plant expressing an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, or more say 100% homologous to the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 and 9796, wherein said plant is derived from a plant selected for increased fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency), increased oil content, increased yield, increased growth rate, increased biomass, increased vigor, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, and/or increased abiotic stress tolerance as compared to a control plant, thereby producing the crop.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention there is provided a method of producing a crop comprising growing a crop of a plant expressing an exogenous polynucleotide which comprises a nucleic acid sequence which is at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, e.g., 100% identical to the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs:1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 and 9752, wherein said plant is derived from a plant selected for increased fertilizer use efficiency (e.g., nitrogen use efficiency), increased oil content, increased yield, increased growth rate, increased biomass, increased vigor, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, and/or increased abiotic stress tolerance as compared to a control plant, thereby producing the crop.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the invention there is provided a method of growing a crop comprising seeding seeds and/or planting plantlets of a plant transformed with the exogenous polynucleotide of the invention, e.g., the polynucleotide which encodes the polypeptide of some embodiments of the invention, wherein the plant is derived from plants selected for at least one trait selected from the group consisting of increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased biomass, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased yield and increased fiber yield or quality as compared to a non-transformed plant.

According to some embodiments of the invention the method of growing a crop comprising seeding seeds and/or planting plantlets of a plant transformed with an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, e.g., 100% identical to SEQ ID NO: 220-366, 5629-9399, 9400, 9701-9708, 9753-9795 or 9796, wherein the plant is derived from plants selected for at least one trait selected from the group consisting of increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased biomass, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased yield, increased fiber yield or quality, and increased oil content as compared to a non-transformed plant, thereby growing the crop.

According to some embodiments of the invention the method of growing a crop comprising seeding seeds and/or planting plantlets of a plant transformed with an exogenous polynucleotide comprising the nucleic acid sequence at least about 80%, at least about 81%, at least about 82%, at least about 83%, at least about 84%, at least about 85%, at least about 86%, at least about 87%, at least about 88%, at least about 89%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, e.g., 100% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1-219, 367-5627, 5628, 9688-9700, 9709-9751 or 9752, wherein the plant is derived from plants selected for at least one trait selected from the group consisting of increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased biomass, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased yield, increased fiber yield or quality, and increased oil content as compared to a non-transformed plant, thereby growing the crop.

The effect of the transgene (the exogenous polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide) on abiotic stress tolerance can be determined using known methods such as detailed below and in the Examples section which follows.

Abiotic stress tolerance—Transformed (i.e., expressing the transgene) and non-transformed (wild type) plants are exposed to an abiotic stress condition, such as water deprivation, suboptimal temperature (low temperature, high temperature), nutrient deficiency, nutrient excess, a salt stress condition, osmotic stress, heavy metal toxicity, anaerobiosis, atmospheric pollution and UV irradiation.

Salinity tolerance assay—Transgenic plants with tolerance to high salt concentrations are expected to exhibit better germination, seedling vigor or growth in high salt. Salt stress can be effected in many ways such as, for example, by irrigating the plants with a hyperosmotic solution, by cultivating the plants hydroponically in a hyperosmotic growth solution (e.g., Hoagland solution), or by culturing the plants in a hyperosmotic growth medium [e.g., 50% Murashige-Skoog medium (MS medium)]. Since different plants vary considerably in their tolerance to salinity, the salt concentration in the irrigation water, growth solution, or growth medium can be adjusted according to the specific characteristics of the specific plant cultivar or variety, so as to inflict a mild or moderate effect on the physiology and/or morphology of the plants (for guidelines as to appropriate concentration see, Bernstein and Kafkafi, Root Growth Under Salinity Stress In: Plant Roots, The Hidden Half 3rd ed. Waisel Y, Eshel A and Kafkafi U. (editors) Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, 2002, and reference therein).

For example, a salinity tolerance test can be performed by irrigating plants at different developmental stages with increasing concentrations of sodium chloride (for example 50 mM, 100 mM, 200 mM, 400 mM NaCl) applied from the bottom and from above to ensure even dispersal of salt. Following exposure to the stress condition the plants are frequently monitored until substantial physiological and/or morphological effects appear in wild type plants. Thus, the external phenotypic appearance, degree of wilting and overall success to reach maturity and yield progeny are compared between control and transgenic plants.

Quantitative parameters of tolerance measured include, but are not limited to, the average wet and dry weight, growth rate, leaf size, leaf coverage (overall leaf area), the weight of the seeds yielded, the average seed size and the number of seeds produced per plant. Transformed plants not exhibiting substantial physiological and/or morphological effects, or exhibiting higher biomass than wild-type plants, are identified as abiotic stress tolerant plants.

Osmotic tolerance test—Osmotic stress assays (including sodium chloride and mannitol assays) are conducted to determine if an osmotic stress phenotype was sodium chloride-specific or if it was a general osmotic stress related phenotype. Plants which are tolerant to osmotic stress may have more tolerance to drought and/or freezing. For salt and osmotic stress germination experiments, the medium is supplemented for example with 50 mM, 100 mM, 200 mM NaCl or 100 mM, 200 mM NaCl, 400 mM mannitol.

Drought tolerance assay/Osmoticum assay—Tolerance to drought is performed to identify the genes conferring better plant survival after acute water deprivation. To analyze whether the transgenic plants are more tolerant to drought, an osmotic stress produced by the non-ionic osmolyte sorbitol in the medium can be performed. Control and transgenic plants are germinated and grown in plant-agar plates for 4 days, after which they are transferred to plates containing 500 mM sorbitol. The treatment causes growth retardation, then both control and transgenic plants are compared, by measuring plant weight (wet and dry), yield, and by growth rates measured as time to flowering.

Conversely, soil-based drought screens are performed with plants overexpressing the polynucleotides detailed above. Seeds from control Arabidopsis plants, or other transgenic plants overexpressing the polypeptide of the invention are germinated and transferred to pots. Drought stress is obtained after irrigation is ceased accompanied by placing the pots on absorbent paper to enhance the soil-drying rate. Transgenic and control plants are compared to each other when the majority of the control plants develop severe wilting. Plants are re-watered after obtaining a significant fraction of the control plants displaying a severe wilting. Plants are ranked comparing to controls for each of two criteria: tolerance to the drought conditions and recovery (survival) following re-watering.

Cold stress tolerance—To analyze cold stress, mature (25 day old) plants are transferred to 4° C. chambers for 1 or 2 weeks, with constitutive light. Later on plants are moved back to greenhouse. Two weeks later damages from chilling period, resulting in growth retardation and other phenotypes, are compared between both control and transgenic plants, by measuring plant weight (wet and dry), and by comparing growth rates measured as time to flowering, plant size, yield, and the like.

Heat stress tolerance—Heat stress tolerance is achieved by exposing the plants to temperatures above 34° C. for a certain period. Plant tolerance is examined after transferring the plants back to 22° C. for recovery and evaluation after 5 days relative to internal controls (non-transgenic plants) or plants not exposed to neither cold or heat stress.

Water use efficiency—can be determined as the biomass produced per unit transpiration. To analyze WUE, leaf relative water content can be measured in control and transgenic plants. Fresh weight (FW) is immediately recorded; then leaves are soaked for 8 hours in distilled water at room temperature in the dark, and the turgid weight (TW) is recorded. Total dry weight (DW) is recorded after drying the leaves at 60° C. to a constant weight. Relative water content (RWC) is calculated according to the following Formula I:

RWC=[(FW−DW)/(TW−DW)]×100  Formula I

Fertilizer use efficiency—To analyze whether the transgenic plants are more responsive to fertilizers, plants are grown in agar plates or pots with a limited amount of fertilizer, as described, for example, Yanagisawa et al (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2004; 101:7833-8), which is fully incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The plants are analyzed for their overall size, time to flowering, yield, protein content of shoot and/or grain. The parameters checked are the overall size of the mature plant, its wet and dry weight, the weight of the seeds yielded, the average seed size and the number of seeds produced per plant. Other parameters that may be tested are: the chlorophyll content of leaves (as nitrogen plant status and the degree of leaf verdure is highly correlated), amino acid and the total protein content of the seeds or other plant parts such as leaves or shoots, oil content, etc. Similarly, instead of providing nitrogen at limiting amounts, phosphate or potassium can be added at increasing concentrations. Again, the same parameters measured are the same as listed above. In this way, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), phosphate use efficiency (PUE) and potassium use efficiency (KUE) are assessed, checking the ability of the transgenic plants to thrive under nutrient restraining conditions.

Nitrogen use efficiency—To analyze whether the transgenic plants (e.g., Arabidopsis plants) are more responsive to nitrogen, plant are grown in 0.75-3 mM (nitrogen deficient conditions) or 6-10 mM (optimal nitrogen concentration). Plants are allowed to grow for additional 25 days or until seed production. The plants are then analyzed for their overall size, time to flowering, yield, protein content of shoot and/or grain/seed production. The parameters checked can be the overall size of the plant, wet and dry weight, the weight of the seeds yielded, the average seed size and the number of seeds produced per plant. Other parameters that may be tested are: the chlorophyll content of leaves (as nitrogen plant status and the degree of leaf greenness is highly correlated), amino acid and the total protein content of the seeds or other plant parts such as leaves or shoots and oil content. Transformed plants not exhibiting substantial physiological and/or morphological effects, or exhibiting higher measured parameters levels than wild-type plants, are identified as nitrogen use efficient plants.

Nitrogen Use efficiency assay using plantlets—The assay is done according to Yanagisawa-S. et al. with minor modifications (“Metabolic engineering with Dof1 transcription factor in plants: Improved nitrogen assimilation and growth under low-nitrogen conditions” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101, 7833-7838). Briefly, transgenic plants which are grown for 7-10 days in 0.5×MS [Murashige-Skoog] supplemented with a selection agent are transferred to two nitrogen-limiting conditions: MS media in which the combined nitrogen concentration (NH₄NO₃ and KNO₃) was 0.75 mM (nitrogen deficient conditions) or 6-15 mM (optimal nitrogen concentration). Plants are allowed to grow for additional 30-40 days and then photographed, individually removed from the Agar (the shoot without the roots) and immediately weighed (fresh weight) for later statistical analysis. Constructs for which only T1 seeds are available are sown on selective media and at least 20 seedlings (each one representing an independent transformation event) are carefully transferred to the nitrogen-limiting media. For constructs for which T2 seeds are available, different transformation events are analyzed. Usually, 20 randomly selected plants from each event are transferred to the nitrogen-limiting media allowed to grow for 3-4 additional weeks and individually weighed at the end of that period. Transgenic plants are compared to control plants grown in parallel under the same conditions. Mock-transgenic plants expressing the uidA reporter gene (GUS) under the same promoter or transgenic plants carrying the same promoter but lacking a reporter gene are used as control.

Nitrogen determination—The procedure for N (nitrogen) concentration determination in the structural parts of the plants involves the potassium persulfate digestion method to convert organic N to NO₃ ⁻ (Purcell and King 1996 Argon. J. 88:111-113, the modified Cd⁻ mediated reduction of NO₃ ⁻ to NO₂ ⁻ (Vodovotz 1996 Biotechniques 20:390-394) and the measurement of nitrite by the Griess assay (Vodovotz 1996, supra). The absorbance values are measured at 550 nm against a standard curve of NaNO₂. The procedure is described in details in Samonte et al. 2006 Agron. J. 98:168-176.

Germination tests—Germination tests compare the percentage of seeds from transgenic plants that could complete the germination process to the percentage of seeds from control plants that are treated in the same manner. Normal conditions are considered for example, incubations at 22° C. under 22-hour light 2-hour dark daily cycles. Evaluation of germination and seedling vigor is conducted between 4 and 14 days after planting. The basal media is 50% MS medium (Murashige and Skoog, 1962 Plant Physiology 15, 473-497 which is fully incorporated herein by reference).

Germination is checked also at unfavorable conditions such as cold (incubating at temperatures lower than 10° C. instead of 22° C.) or using seed inhibition solutions that contain high concentrations of an osmolyte such as sorbitol (at concentrations of 50 mM, 100 mM, 200 mM, 300 mM, 500 mM, and up to 1000 mM) or applying increasing concentrations of salt (of 50 mM, 100 mM, 200 mM, 300 mM, 500 mM NaCl).

The effect of the transgene on plant's vigor, growth rate, biomass, yield and/or oil content can be determined using known methods.

Plant vigor—The plant vigor can be calculated by the increase in growth parameters such as leaf area, fiber length, rosette diameter, plant fresh weight and the like per time.

Growth rate—The growth rate can be measured using digital analysis of growing plants. For example, images of plants growing in greenhouse on plot basis can be captured every 3 days and the rosette area can be calculated by digital analysis. Rosette area growth is calculated using the difference of rosette area between days of sampling divided by the difference in days between samples.

Evaluation of growth rate can be done by measuring plant biomass produced, rosette area, leaf size or root length per time (can be measured in cm² per day of leaf area).

Area Growth Rate can be calculated using Formula II.

Area Growth Rate=Regression coefficient of area along time course  Formula II:

Thus, the area growth rate units are cm²/day and the length and diameter growth rate units are cm/day.

Seed yield—Evaluation of the seed yield per plant can be done by measuring the amount (weight or size) or quantity (i.e., number) of dry seeds produced and harvested from 8-16 plants and divided by the number of plants.

For example, the total seeds from 8-16 plants can be collected, weighted using e.g., an analytical balance and the total weight can be divided by the number of plants. Seed yield per growing area can be calculated in the same manner while taking into account the growing area given to a single plant. Increase seed yield per growing area could be achieved by increasing seed yield per plant, and/or by increasing number of plants capable of growing in a given area.

In addition, seed yield can be determined via the weight of 1000 seeds. The weight of 1000 seeds can be determined as follows: seeds are scattered on a glass tray and a picture is taken. Each sample is weighted and then using the digital analysis, the number of seeds in each sample is calculated.

The 1000 seeds weight can be calculated using formula III:

1000 Seed Weight=number of seed in sample/sample weight×1000  Formula III:

The Harvest Index can be calculated using Formula IV.

Harvest Index=Average seed yield per plant/Average dry weight  Formula IV:

Grain protein concentration—Grain protein content (g grain protein m²) is estimated as the product of the mass of grain N (g grain N m²) multiplied by the N/protein conversion ratio of k−5.13 (Mosse 1990, supra). The grain protein concentration is estimated as the ratio of grain protein content per unit mass of the grain (g grain protein kg⁻¹ grain).

Fiber length—Fiber length can be measured using fibrograph. The fibrograph system was used to compute length in terms of “Upper Half Mean” length. The upper half mean (UHM) is the average length of longer half of the fiber distribution. The fibrograph measures length in span lengths at a given percentage point (Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) cottoninc (dot) com/ClassificationofCotton/?Pg=4#Length).

According to some embodiments of the invention, increased yield of corn may be manifested as one or more of the following: increase in the number of plants per growing area, increase in the number of ears per plant, increase in the number of rows per ear, number of kernels per ear row, kernel weight, thousand kernel weight (1000-weight), ear length/diameter, increase oil content per kernel and increase starch content per kernel.

As mentioned, the increase of plant yield can be determined by various parameters. For example, increased yield of rice may be manifested by an increase in one or more of the following: number of plants per growing area, number of panicles per plant, number of spikelets per panicle, number of flowers per panicle, increase in the seed filling rate, increase in thousand kernel weight (1000-weight), increase oil content per seed, increase starch content per seed, among others. An increase in yield may also result in modified architecture, or may occur because of modified architecture.

Similarly, increased yield of soybean may be manifested by an increase in one or more of the following: number of plants per growing area, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, increase in the seed filling rate, increase in thousand seed weight (1000-weight), reduce pod shattering, increase oil content per seed, increase protein content per seed, among others. An increase in yield may also result in modified architecture, or may occur because of modified architecture.

Increased yield of canola may be manifested by an increase in one or more of the following: number of plants per growing area, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, increase in the seed filling rate, increase in thousand seed weight (1000-weight), reduce pod shattering, increase oil content per seed, among others. An increase in yield may also result in modified architecture, or may occur because of modified architecture.

Increased yield of cotton may be manifested by an increase in one or more of the following: number of plants per growing area, number of bolls per plant, number of seeds per boll, increase in the seed filling rate, increase in thousand seed weight (1000-weight), increase oil content per seed, improve fiber length, fiber strength, among others. An increase in yield may also result in modified architecture, or may occur because of modified architecture.

Oil content—The oil content of a plant can be determined by extraction of the oil from the seed or the vegetative portion of the plant. Briefly, lipids (oil) can be removed from the plant (e.g., seed) by grinding the plant tissue in the presence of specific solvents (e.g., hexane or petroleum ether) and extracting the oil in a continuous extractor. Indirect oil content analysis can be carried out using various known methods such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy, which measures the resonance energy absorbed by hydrogen atoms in the liquid state of the sample [See for example, Conway T F. and Earle F R., 1963, Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society; Springer Berlin/Heidelberg, ISSN: 0003-021X (Print) 1558-9331 (Online)]; the Near Infrared (NI) Spectroscopy, which utilizes the absorption of near infrared energy (1100-2500 nm) by the sample; and a method described in WO/2001/023884, which is based on extracting oil a solvent, evaporating the solvent in a gas stream which forms oil particles, and directing a light into the gas stream and oil particles which forms a detectable reflected light.

Thus, the present invention is of high agricultural value for promoting the yield of commercially desired crops (e.g., biomass of vegetative organ such as poplar wood, or reproductive organ such as number of seeds or seed biomass).

Any of the transgenic plants described hereinabove or parts thereof may be processed to produce a feed, meal, protein or oil preparation, such as for ruminant animals.

The transgenic plants described hereinabove, which exhibit an increased oil content can be used to produce plant oil (by extracting the oil from the plant).

The plant oil (including the seed oil and/or the vegetative portion oil) produced according to the method of the invention may be combined with a variety of other ingredients. The specific ingredients included in a product are determined according to the intended use. Exemplary products include animal feed, raw material for chemical modification, biodegradable plastic, blended food product, edible oil, biofuel, cooking oil, lubricant, biodiesel, snack food, cosmetics, and fermentation process raw material. Exemplary products to be incorporated to the plant oil include animal feeds, human food products such as extruded snack foods, breads, as a food binding agent, aquaculture feeds, fermentable mixtures, food supplements, sport drinks, nutritional food bars, multi-vitamin supplements, diet drinks, and cereal foods.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the oil comprises a seed oil.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the oil comprises a vegetative portion oil (oil of the vegetative portion of the plant).

According to some embodiments of the invention, the plant cell forms a part of a plant.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a food or feed comprising the plants or a portion thereof of the present invention.

As used herein the term “about” refers to ±10%.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, “including”, “having” and their conjugates mean “including but not limited to”.

The term “consisting of” means including and limited to”.

The term “consisting essentially of” means that the composition, method or structure may include additional ingredients, steps and/or parts, but only if the additional ingredients, steps and/or parts do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method or structure.

As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a compound” or “at least one compound” may include a plurality of compounds, including mixtures thereof.

Throughout this application, various embodiments of this invention may be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.

Whenever a numerical range is indicated herein, it is meant to include any cited numeral (fractional or integral) within the indicated range. The phrases “ranging/ranges between” a first indicate number and a second indicate number and “ranging/ranges from” a first indicate number “to” a second indicate number are used herein interchangeably and are meant to include the first and second indicated numbers and all the fractional and integral numerals therebetween.

As used herein the term “method” refers to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the chemical, pharmacological, biological, biochemical and medical arts.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

Various embodiments and aspects of the present invention as delineated hereinabove and as claimed in the claims section below find experiments support in the following examples.

EXAMPLES

Reference is now made to the following examples, which together with the above descriptions illustrate some embodiments of the invention in a non limiting fashion.

Generally, the nomenclature used herein and the laboratory procedures utilized in the present invention include molecular, biochemical, microbiological and recombinant DNA techniques. Such techniques are thoroughly explained in the literature. See, for example, “Molecular Cloning: A laboratory Manual” Sambrook et al., (1989); “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology” Volumes I-III Ausubel, R. M., ed. (1994); Ausubel et al., “Current Protocols in Molecular Biology”, John Wiley and Sons, Baltimore, Md. (1989); Perbal, “A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning”, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1988); Watson et al., “Recombinant DNA”, Scientific American Books, New York; Birren et al. (eds) “Genome Analysis: A Laboratory Manual Series”, Vols. 1-4, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York (1998); methodologies as set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,666,828; 4,683,202; 4,801,531; 5,192,659 and 5,272,057; “Cell Biology: A Laboratory Handbook”, Volumes I-III Cellis, J. E., ed. (1994); “Current Protocols in Immunology” Volumes I-III Coligan J. E., ed. (1994); Stites et al. (eds), “Basic and Clinical Immunology” (8th Edition), Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, Conn. (1994); Mishell and Shiigi (eds), “Selected Methods in Cellular Immunology”, W. H. Freeman and Co., New York (1980); available immunoassays are extensively described in the patent and scientific literature, see, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,791,932; 3,839,153; 3,850,752; 3,850,578; 3,853,987; 3,867,517; 3,879,262; 3,901,654; 3,935,074; 3,984,533; 3,996,345; 4,034,074; 4,098,876; 4,879,219; 5,011,771 and 5,281,521; “Oligonucleotide Synthesis” Gait, M. J., ed. (1984); “Nucleic Acid Hybridization” Hames, B. D., and Higgins S. J., eds. (1985); “Transcription and Translation” Hames, B. D., and Higgins S. J., Eds. (1984); “Animal Cell Culture” Freshney, R. I., ed. (1986); “Immobilized Cells and Enzymes” IRL Press, (1986); “A Practical Guide to Molecular Cloning” Perbal, B., (1984) and “Methods in Enzymology” Vol. 1-317, Academic Press; “PCR Protocols: A Guide To Methods And Applications”, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1990); Marshak et al., “Strategies for Protein Purification and Characterization—A Laboratory Course Manual” CSHL Press (1996); all of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Other general references are provided throughout this document. The procedures therein are believed to be well known in the art and are provided for the convenience of the reader.

All the information contained therein is incorporated herein by reference.

General Experimental and Bioinformatics Methods

RNA extraction—Tissues growing at various growth conditions (as described below) were sampled and RNA was extracted using TRIzol Reagent from Invitrogen [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) invitrogen (dot) com/content (dot)cfm?pageid=469]. Approximately 30-50 mg of tissue was taken from samples. The weighed tissues were ground using pestle and mortar in liquid nitrogen and resuspended in 500 μl of TRIzol Reagent. To the homogenized lysate, 100 μl of chloroform was added followed by precipitation using isopropanol and two washes with 75% ethanol. The RNA was eluted in 30 μl of RNase-free water. RNA samples were cleaned up using Qiagen's RNeasy minikit clean-up protocol as per the manufacturer's protocol (QIAGEN Inc, CA USA). For convenience, each micro-array expression information tissue type has received an expression Set ID.

Correlation analysis—was performed for selected genes according to some embodiments of the invention, in which the characterized parameters (measured parameters according to the correlation IDs) were used as “x axis” for correlation with the tissue transcriptome which was used as the “Y axis”. For each gene and measured parameter a correlation coefficient “R” was calculated (using Pearson correlation) along with a p-value for the significance of the correlation. When the correlation coefficient (R) between the levels of a gene's expression in a certain tissue and a phenotypic performance across ecotypes/variety/hybrid is high in absolute value (between 0.5-1), there is an association between the gene (specifically the expression level of this gene) the phenotypic characteristic (e.g., improved nitrogen use efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, yield, growth rate and the like).

Example 1 Bio-Informatics Tools for Identification of Genes which Increase Abiotic Stress Tolerance, Yield and Agronomical Important Traits in Plants

The present inventors have identified polynucleotides which expression thereof in plants can increase abiotic stress tolerance (ABST), water use efficiency (WUE), yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, oil content, growth rate, vigor, biomass, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) such as nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), water use efficiency (WUE) of a plant.

All nucleotide sequence datasets used here were originated from publicly available databases or from performing sequencing using the Solexa technology (e.g. Barley and Sorghum). Sequence data from 100 different plant species was introduced into a single, comprehensive database. Other information on gene expression, protein annotation, enzymes and pathways were also incorporated. Major databases used include:

-   -   Genomes     -   Arabidopsis genome [TAIR genome version 6 (Hypertext Transfer         Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) Arabidopsis (dot) org/)]     -   Rice genome [IRGSP build 4.0 (Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rgp         (dot) dna (dot) affrc (dot) go (dot) jp/IRGSP/)].     -   Poplar [Populus trichocarpa release 1.1 from JGI (assembly         release v1.0) (Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web         (dot) genome (dot) jgi-psf (dot) org/)]     -   Brachypodium [JGI 4× assembly, Hypertext Transfer         Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) brachypodium (dot) org)]     -   Soybean [DOE-JGI SCP, version GlymaO (Hypertext Transfer         Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) phytozome (dot) net/)]     -   Grape [French-Italian Public Consortium for Grapevine Genome         Characterization grapevine genome (Hypertext Transfer         Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) genoscope (dot) cns (dot) fr/)]     -   Castorbean [TIGR/J Craig Venter Institute 4× assembly         [(Hypertext Transfer Protocol://msc (dot) jcvi (dot)         org/r_communis]     -   Sorghum [DOE-JGI SCP, version Sbil [Hypertext Transfer         Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) phytozome (dot) net/)].     -   Partially assembled genome of Maize [Hypertext Transfer         Protocol://maizesequence (dot) org/]     -   Expressed EST and mRNA sequences were extracted from the         following databases:     -   GenBank versions 154, 157, 160, 161, 164, 165, 166 and 168         (Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) ncbi (dot)         nlm (dot) nih (dot) gov/dbEST/)     -   RefSeq (Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) ncbi         (dot) nlm (dot) nih (dot) gov/RefSeq/).     -   TAIR (Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot)         Arabidopsis (dot) org/).     -   Protein and pathway databases     -   Uniprot [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot)         uniprot (dot) org/].     -   AraCyc [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot)         Arabidopsis (dot) org/biocyc/index (dot) jsp].     -   ENZYME [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://expasy (dot) org/enzyme/].     -   Microarray datasets were downloaded from:     -   GEO (Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide         Web.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/)     -   TAIR (Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide         Web.Arabidopsis.org/).     -   Proprietary microarray data (WO2008/122980 and the Examples         section below).     -   QTL and SNPs information     -   Gramene [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot)         gramene (dot) org/qtl/].     -   Panzea [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot)         panzea (dot) org/index (dot) html].

Database assembly—was performed to build a wide, rich, reliable annotated and easy to analyze database comprised of publicly available genomic mRNA, ESTs DNA sequences, data from various crops as well as gene expression, protein annotation and pathway data QTLs, and other relevant information.

Database assembly is comprised of a toolbox of gene refining, structuring, annotation and analysis tools enabling to construct a tailored database for each gene discovery project. Gene refining and structuring tools enable to reliably detect splice variants and antisense transcripts, generating understanding of various potential phenotypic outcomes of a single gene. The capabilities of the “LEADS” platform of Compugen LTD for analyzing human genome have been confirmed and accepted by the scientific community [see e.g., “Widespread Antisense Transcription”, Yelin, et al. (2003) Nature Biotechnology 21, 379-85; “Splicing of Alu Sequences”, Lev-Maor, et al. (2003) Science 300 (5623), 1288-91; “Computational analysis of alternative splicing using EST tissue information”, Xie H et al. Genomics 2002], and have been proven most efficient in plant genomics as well.

EST clustering and gene assembly—For gene clustering and assembly of organisms with available genome sequence data (Arabidopsis, rice, castorbean, grape, Brachypodium, poplar, soybean, Sorghum) the genomic LEADS version (GANG) was employed. This tool allows most accurate clustering of ESTs and mRNA sequences on genome, and predicts gene structure as well as alternative splicing events and anti-sense transcription.

For organisms with no available full genome sequence data, “expressed LEADS” clustering software was applied.

Gene annotation—Predicted genes and proteins were annotated as follows:

Blast search [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://blast (dot) ncbi (dot) nlm (dot) nih (dot) gov/Blast (dot) cgi] against all plant UniProt [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) uniprot (dot) org/] sequences was performed. Open reading frames of each putative transcript were analyzed and longest ORF with higher number of homologues was selected as predicted protein of the transcript. The predicted proteins were analyzed by InterPro [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) ebi (dot) ac (dot) uk/interpro/].

Blast against proteins from AraCyc and ENZYME databases was used to map the predicted transcripts to AraCyc pathways.

Predicted proteins from different species were compared using blast algorithm [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) ncbi (dot) nlm (dot) nih (dot) gov/Blast (dot) cgi] to validate the accuracy of the predicted protein sequence, and for efficient detection of orthologs.

Gene expression profiling—Several data sources were exploited for gene expression profiling, namely microarray data and digital expression profile (see below). According to gene expression profile, a correlation analysis was performed to identify genes which are co-regulated under different development stages and environmental conditions and associated with different phenotypes.

Publicly available microarray datasets were downloaded from TAIR and NCBI GEO sites, renormalized, and integrated into the database. Expression profiling is one of the most important resource data for identifying genes important for ABST, increased yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, WUE, NUE and FUE of a plant.

A digital expression profile summary was compiled for each cluster according to all keywords included in the sequence records comprising the cluster. Digital expression, also known as electronic Northern Blot, is a tool that displays virtual expression profile based on the EST sequences forming the gene cluster. The tool provides the expression profile of a cluster in terms of plant anatomy (e.g., the tissue/organ in which the gene is expressed), developmental stage (the developmental stages at which a gene can be found) and profile of treatment (provides the physiological conditions under which a gene is expressed such as drought, cold, pathogen infection, etc). Given a random distribution of ESTs in the different clusters, the digital expression provides a probability value that describes the probability of a cluster having a total of N ESTs to contain X ESTs from a certain collection of libraries. For the probability calculations, the following is taken into consideration: a) the number of ESTs in the cluster, b) the number of ESTs of the implicated and related libraries, c) the overall number of ESTs available representing the species. Thereby clusters with low probability values are highly enriched with ESTs from the group of libraries of interest indicating a specialized expression.

Recently, the accuracy of this system was demonstrated by Portnoy et al., 2009 (Analysis Of The Melon Fruit Transcriptome Based On 454 Pyrosequencing) in: Plant & Animal Genomes XVII Conference, San Diego, Calif. Transcriptomic analysis, based on relative EST abundance in data was performed by 454 pyrosequencing of cDNA representing mRNA of the melon fruit. Fourteen double strand cDNA samples obtained from two genotypes, two fruit tissues (flesh and rind) and four developmental stages were sequenced. GS FLX pyrosequencing (Roche/454 Life Sciences) of non-normalized and purified cDNA samples yielded 1,150,657 expressed sequence tags, that assembled into 67,477 unigenes (32,357 singletons and 35,120 contigs). Analysis of the data obtained against the Cucurbit Genomics Database [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) icugi (dot) org/] confirmed the accuracy of the sequencing and assembly. Expression patterns of selected genes fitted well their qRT-PCR data.

Example 2 Production of Sorghum Transcriptome and High Throughput Correlation Analysis with Yield, NUE, and ABST Related Parameters Measured in Fields Using 44K Sorghum Oligonucleotide Micro-Arrays

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis between plant phenotype and gene expression level, the present inventors utilized a Sorghum oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 44,000 Sorghum genes and transcripts. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression with ABST, yield and NUE components or vigor related parameters, various plant characteristics of 17 different Sorghum hybrids were analyzed. Among them, 10 hybrids encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

I. Correlation of Sorghum Varieties Grown Under Regular Growth Conditions, Severe Drought Conditions and Low Nitrogen Conditions

Experimental Procedures

17 Sorghum varieties were grown in 3 repetitive plots, in field. Briefly, the growing protocol was as follows:

1. Regular growth conditions: Sorghum plants were grown in the field using commercial fertilization and irrigation protocols, which include 370 m³ water per dunam (i.e., 1000 m²) per entire growth period and fertilization of 14 units of URAN® 21% (Nitrogen Fertilizer Solution; PCS Sales, Northbrook, Ill., USA) (normal growth conditions).

2. Drought conditions: Sorghum seeds were sown in soil and grown under normal condition until around 35 days from sowing, around stage V8 (eight green leaves are fully expanded, booting not started yet). At this point, irrigation was stopped, and severe drought stress was developed.

3. Low Nitrogen fertilization conditions: Sorghum plants were fertilized with 50% less amount of nitrogen in the field than the amount of nitrogen applied in the regular growth treatment. All the fertilizer was applied before flowering.

Analyzed Sorghum tissues—All 10 selected Sorghum hybrids were sampled per each treatment. Tissues [Flag leaf, Flower meristem and Flower] from plants growing under normal conditions, severe drought stress and low nitrogen conditions were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Sorghum transcriptome expression sets in field experiments Expression Set Set ID Sorghum Field/Flag Leaf Drought 1 Sorghum Field/Flag Leaf NUE 2 Sorghum Field/Flag Leaf Normal 3 Sorghum Field/Flower Meristem Drought 4 Sorghum Field/Flower Meristem NUE 5 Sorghum Field/Flower Meristem Normal 6 Sorghum Field/Flower Drought 7 Sorghum Field/Flower NUE 8 Sorghum Field/Flower Normal 9 Table 1: Provided are the sorghum transcriptome expression set 1-9.

The following parameters were collected using digital imaging system:

Average Grain Area (cm²)—At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the Plant ‘Head’. Samples of -200 grains each were weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The grain area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Average Grain Length (cm)—At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the Plant ‘Head’. A sample of -200 grains were weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain lengths (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Head Average Area (cm²)—At the end of the growing period 5 ‘Heads’ were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The ‘Head’ area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of ‘Heads’.

Head Average Length (cm)—At the end of the growing period 5 ‘Heads’ were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The ‘Head’ length (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of ‘Heads’.

An image processing system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P43.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program—ImageJ 1.37, Java based image processing software, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is freely available on the internet at Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/. Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888×2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, image processing output data for seed area and seed length was saved to text files and analyzed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Additional parameters were collected either by sampling 5 plants per plot or by measuring the parameter across all the plants within the plot.

Total Seed Weight per Head (gr.)—At the end of the experiment (plant ‘Heads’) heads from plots within blocks A-C were collected. 5 heads were separately threshed and grains were weighted, all additional heads were threshed together and weighted as well. The average grain weight per head was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by number of total heads per plot (based on plot). In case of 5 heads, the total grains weight of 5 heads was divided by 5.

FW Head per Plant gram—At the end of the experiment (when heads were harvested) total heads and 5 selected heads per plots within blocks A-C were collected separately. The heads (total and 5) were weighted (gr.) separately, and the average fresh weight per plant was calculated for total (FW Head/Plant gr. based on plot) and for 5 (FW Head/Plant gr. based on 5 plants) heads.

Plant height—Plants were characterized for height during growing period at 5 time points. In each measure, plants were measured for their height using a measuring tape. Height was measured from ground level to top of the longest leaf.

Plant leaf number—Plants were characterized for leaf number during growing period at 5 time points. In each measure, plants were measured for their leaf number by counting all the leaves of 3 selected plants per plot.

Growth Rate—was calculated using Formulas V and VI.

Growth rate of plant height=Regression coefficient of plant height along time course.  Formula V

Growth rate of plant leaf number=Regression coefficient of plant leaf number along time course.  Formula VI

SPAD—Chlorophyll content was determined using a Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter and measurement was performed 64 days post sowing. SPAD meter readings were done on young fully developed leaf. Three measurements per leaf were taken per plot.

Vegetative dry weight and Heads—At the end of the experiment (when inflorescence were dry) all inflorescence and vegetative material from plots within blocks A-C were collected. The biomass and heads weight of each plot was separated, measured and divided by the number of heads.

Dry weight=total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) after drying at 70° C. in oven for 48 hours;

Harvest Index (HI) (Sorghum)—The harvest index was calculated using Formula VII.

Harvest Index=Average grain dry weight per Head/(Average vegetative dry weight per Head+Average Head dry weight)  Formula VII

Harvest Index for Sorghum* (* when the plants were not dried) was calculated using Formula VIII as follows:

Harvest Index for Sorghum*=FW (fresh weight) Heads/(FW Heads+FW Plants)  Formula VIII

The total fresh weight of heads and their respective plant biomass was measured at the harvest day. The heads weight was divided by the sum of weights of heads and plants.

Data parameters collected are summarized in Table 2, herein below

TABLE 2 Sorghum correlated parameters (vectors) Correlated parameter with Correlation ID Average Grain Area (cm²), Drought 1 Average Grain Area (cm²), Low N 2 Average Grain Area (cm²), Normal 3 FW-Head/Plant gr. (based on plot), Drought 4 FW-Head/Plant gr. (based on plot), Low N 5 FW-Head/Plant gr. (based on plot), Normal 6 FW-Head/Plant gr. (based on 5 plants), Low N 7 FW-Head/Plant gr. (based on 5 plants), Normal 8 FW Heads/(FW Heads + FW Plants)(all plot), Drought 9 FW Heads/(FW Heads + FW Plants)(all plot), Low N 10 FW Heads/(FW Heads + FW Plants)(all plot), Normal 11 FW/Plant gr. (based on plot), Drought 12 FW/Plant gr. (based on plot), Low N 13 FW/Plant gr. (based on plot), Normal 14 Final Plant Height (cm), Drought 15 Final Plant Height (cm), Low N 16 Final Plant Height (cm), Normal 17 Head Average Area (cm²), Drought 18 Head Average Area (cm²), Low N 19 Head Average Area (cm²), Normal 20 Head Average Length (cm), Drought 21 Head Average Length (cm), Low N 22 Head Average Length (cm), Normal 23 Head Average Perimeter (cm), Drought 24 Head Average Perimeter (cm), Low N 25 Head Average Perimeter (cm), Normal 26 Head Average Width (cm), Drought 27 Head Average Width (cm), Low N 28 Head Average Width (cm), Normal 29 Leaf SPAD 64 DPS (Days Post Sowing), Drought 30 Leaf SPAD 64 DPS (Days Post Sowing), Low N 31 Leaf SPAD 64 DPS (Days Post Sowing), Normal 32 Lower Ratio Average Grain Area, Low N 33 Lower Ratio Average Grain Area, Normal 34 Lower Ratio Average Grain Length, Low N 35 Lower Ratio Average Grain Length, Normal 36 Lower Ratio Average Grain Perimeter, Low N 37 Lower Ratio Average Grain Perimeter, Normal 38 Lower Ratio Average Grain Width, Low N 39 Lower Ratio Average Grain Width, Normal 40 Total grain weight/Head (based on plot) gr., Low N 41 Total grain weight/Head gr. (based on 5 heads), Low N 42 Total grain weight/Head gr. (based on 5 heads), Normal 43 Total grain weight/Head gr. (based on plot), Normal 44 Total grain weight/Head gr., (based on plot) Drought 45 Upper Ratio Average Grain Area, Drought 46 Upper Ratio Average Grain Area, Low N 47 Upper Ratio Average Grain Area, Normal 48 [Grain Yield + plant biomass/SPAD 64 DPS], Normal 49 [Grain Yield + plant biomass/SPAD 64 DPS], Low N 50 [Grain yield/SPAD 64 DPS], Low N 51 [Grain yield/SPAD 64 DPS], Normal 52 [Plant biomass (FW)/SPAD 64 DPS], Drought 53 [Plant biomass (FW)/SPAD 64 DPS], Low N 54 [Plant biomass (FW)/SPAD 64 DPS], Normal 55 Table 2. Provided are the Sorghum correlated parameters (vectors). “DW” = Dry Weight; (5I)” = Average of five Inflorescences; “FW” = Fresh Weight; “gr.” = grams; “cm” = centimeter; “SPAD” = chlorophyll levels.

Experimental Results

Normal Growth Condition (for Parameters 1-55)

16 different Sorghum varieties were grown and characterized for 55 parameters as described above. The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software and values are summarized in Tables 3-8 below. Subsequent correlation analysis between the various transcriptome sets (Table 1) and the average parameters, was conducted. Follow, results were integrated to the database.

TABLE 3 Sorghum accessions, measured parameters under normal growth conditions Ecotype/ Treatment Line-1 Line-2 Line-3 Line-4 Line-5 Line-6 Line-7 Line-8 1 0.10 0.11 0.11 0.09 0.09 0.11 2 0.11 0.11 0.14 0.12 0.14 0.13 0.12 0.12 3 0.10 0.11 0.13 0.13 0.14 0.14 0.11 0.11 4 154.90 122.02 130.51 241.11 69.03 186.41 62.11 39.02 5 214.78 205.05 73.49 122.96 153.07 93.23 134.11 77.43 6 175.15 223.49 56.40 111.62 67.34 66.90 126.18 107.74 7 388.00 428.67 297.67 280.00 208.33 303.67 436.00 376.33 8 406.50 518.00 148.00 423.00 92.00 101.33 423.50 386.50 9 0.42 0.47 0.42 0.37 0.23 0.31 0.41 0.44 10 0.51 0.51 0.17 0.39 0.21 0.19 0.48 0.37 11 0.51 0.51 0.12 0.26 0.12 0.18 0.46 0.43 12 207.99 138.02 255.41 402.22 233.55 391.75 89.31 50.61 13 204.78 199.64 340.51 240.60 537.78 359.40 149.20 129.06 14 162.56 212.59 334.83 313.46 462.28 318.26 151.13 137.60 15 89.40 75.73 92.10 94.30 150.80 110.73 99.20 84.00 16 104.00 80.93 204.73 125.40 225.40 208.07 121.40 100.27 17 95.25 79.20 197.85 234.20 189.40 194.67 117.25 92.80 18 83.14 107.79 88.68 135.91 90.76 123.95 86.06 85.20 19 96.24 214.72 98.59 182.83 119.64 110.19 172.36 84.81 20 120.14 167.60 85.14 157.26 104.00 102.48 168.54 109.32 21 21.63 21.94 21.57 22.01 20.99 28.60 21.35 20.81 22 23.22 25.58 20.93 28.43 24.32 22.63 32.11 20.38 23 25.58 26.84 21.02 26.84 23.14 21.82 31.33 23.18 24 52.78 64.49 56.59 64.37 53.21 71.66 55.61 52.96 25 56.32 79.20 53.25 76.21 67.27 59.49 79.28 51.52 26 61.22 67.90 56.26 65.38 67.46 67.46 74.35 56.16 27 4.83 6.31 5.16 7.78 5.28 5.49 5.04 5.07 28 5.26 10.41 5.93 8.25 6.19 6.12 6.80 5.25 29 5.97 7.92 4.87 7.43 5.58 5.88 6.78 5.99 30 40.58 40.88 45.01 42.30 45.24 40.56 44.80 45.07 31 38.33 38.98 42.33 40.90 43.15 39.85 42.68 43.31 32 43.01 . 43.26 44.74 45.76 41.61 45.21 45.14 33 0.82 0.77 0.81 0.79 0.78 0.80 0.83 0.79 34 0.83 0.74 0.78 0.80 0.70 0.70 0.83 0.81 35 0.91 0.90 0.92 0.90 0.91 0.93 0.92 0.89 36 0.91 0.88 0.92 0.91 0.89 0.88 0.91 0.90 37 0.90 0.88 0.92 0.90 0.92 0.92 0.92 0.89 38 0.91 0.87 0.91 0.95 0.90 0.91 0.91 0.91 39 0.90 0.85 0.89 0.88 0.86 0.87 0.91 0.89 40 0.91 0.83 0.85 0.87 0.79 0.80 0.90 0.89 41 25.95 30.57 19.37 35.62 25.18 22.18 49.96 27.48 42 50.27 50.93 36.13 73.10 37.87 36.40 71.67 35.00 43 47.40 46.30 28.37 70.40 32.15 49.23 63.45 44.45 44 31.12 26.35 18.72 38.38 26.67 28.84 47.67 31.00 45 22.11 16.77 9.19 104.44 3.24 22.00 9.97 18.58 46 1.31 1.19 1.29 1.46 1.21 1.21 47 1.18 1.31 1.11 1.21 1.19 1.18 1.16 1.23 48 1.22 1.30 1.13 1.14 1.16 1.15 1.19 1.23 49 4.50 8.17 7.87 10.68 8.34 4.40 3.74 4.83 50 6.02 5.91 8.50 6.75 13.05 9.58 4.67 3.61 51 0.68 0.78 0.46 0.87 0.58 0.56 1.17 0.63 52 3.78 7.74 7.01 10.10 7.65 3.34 3.05 3.90 53 5.13 3.38 5.67 9.51 5.16 9.66 1.99 1.12 54 5.34 5.12 8.05 5.88 12.46 9.02 3.50 2.98 55 0.72 0.43 0.86 0.58 0.69 1.05 0.69 0.93 Table 3: Provided are the measured parameters under 50% irrigation conditions of Sorghum accessions (Seed ID) according to the Correlation (Corr.) ID numbers (described in Table 2 above).

TABLE 4 Sorghum accessions, addition measured parameters under normal growth conditions Ecotype/ Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Treatment Line-9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 2 0.12 0.13 0.13 0.12 0.12 0.11 0.11 0.12 0.11 3 0.10 0.12 0.12 0.11 0.12 0.11 0.10 0.11 0.11 4 58.94 76.37 33.47 42.20 41.53 131. 67 60.84 44.33 185.44 5 129.63 99.83 76.95 84.25 92.24 138.83 113.32 95.50 124.49 6 123.86 102.75 82.33 77.59 91.17 150.44 109.10 107.58 130.88 7 474.67 437.67 383.00 375.00 425.00 434.00 408.67 378.50 432.00 8 409.50 328.95 391.00 435.70 429.50 441.00 415.75 429.50 428.50 9 0.40 0.44 0.47 0.47 0.48 0.35 0.35 0.23 0.33 10 0.42 0.44 0.43 0.39 0.44 0.44 0.44 0.43 0.42 11 0.42 0.44 0.46 0.45 0.45 0.51 0.46 0.44 0.39 12 87.02 120.43 37.21 48.18 44.20 231.60 116.01 123.08 342.50 13 178.71 124.27 101.33 132.12 117.90 176.99 143.67 126.98 180.45 14 167.98 128.97 97.62 99.32 112.24 157.42 130.55 135.66 209.21 15 99.00 92.20 81.93 98.80 86.47 99.60 83.00 83.53 92.30 16 121.13 94.53 110.00 115.07 104.73 173.67 115.60 138.80 144.40 17 112.65 97.50 98.00 100.00 105.60 151.15 117.10 124.45 126.50 18 113.10 100.79 80.41 126.89 86.41 92.29 77.89 76.93 19 156.25 136.71 137.70 96.54 158.19 163.95 138.39 135.46 165.64 20 135.13 169.03 156.10 112.14 154.74 171.70 168.51 162.51 170.46 21 24.68 24.28 21.95 24.98 19.49 20.42 16.81 18.88 22 26.69 26.31 25.43 23.11 27.87 28.88 27.64 25.52 30.33 23 25.70 28.82 28.13 22.97 28.09 30.00 30.54 27.17 29.26 24 69.83 65.14 55.27 69.06 53.32 56.29 49.12 51.88 25 69.88 66.17 67.37 57.90 70.61 73.76 66.87 65.40 75.97 26 61.64 71.40 68.56 56.44 67.79 71.54 78.94 67.03 74.11 27 5.77 5.37 4.66 6.35 5.58 5.76 5.86 5.10 28 7.52 6.59 6.85 5.32 7.25 7.19 6.27 6.57 6.82 29 6.62 7.42 6.98 6.19 7.02 7.18 7.00 7.39 7.35 30 40.65 45.43 42.58 44.18 44.60 42.41 43.25 40.30 40.75 31 39.01 42.71 40.08 43.98 45.44 44.75 42.58 43.81 46.73 32 43.03 45.59 44.83 45.33 46.54 43.99 45.09 45.14 43.13 33 0.81 0.77 0.74 0.80 0.79 0.82 0.80 0.81 0.81 34 0.84 0.79 0.77 0.80 0.81 0.82 0.81 0.82 0.82 35 0.90 0.91 0.89 0.90 0.89 0.91 0.89 0.89 0.90 36 0.92 0.92 0.89 0.91 0.91 0.91 0.90 0.90 0.91 37 0.90 0.91 0.89 0.90 0.90 0.91 0.89 0.90 0.90 38 0.92 0.93 0.91 0.92 0.90 0.91 0.90 0.91 0.91 39 0.90 0.86 0.84 0.90 0.89 0.91 0.90 0.90 0.90 40 0.91 0.85 0.86 0.88 0.90 0.90 0.91 0.90 0.90 41 51.12 36.84 29.45 26.70 29.42 51.12 37.04 39.85 41.78 42 76.73 57.58 42.93 36.47 68.60 71.80 49.27 43.87 52.07 43 56.65 60.00 45.45 58.19 70.60 70.10 53.95 59.87 52.65 44 39.99 38.36 32.10 32.69 32.79 51.53 35.71 38.31 42.44 45 29.27 10.45 14.77 12.86 18.24 11.60 18.65 16.36 47 1.17 1.22 1.24 1.19 1.23 1.16 1.34 1.21 1.21 48 1.25 1.24 1.32 1.22 1.18 1.18 1.22 1.25 1.22 49 3.67 2.89 2.91 3.12 4.75 3.69 3.85 5.84 50 5.89 3.77 3.26 3.61 3.24 5.10 4.25 3.81 4.76 51 1.31 0.86 0.73 0.61 0.65 1.14 0.87 0.91 0.89 52 2.83 2.18 2.19 2.41 3.58 2.90 3.01 4.85 53 2.14 2.65 0.87 1.09 0.99 5.46 2.68 3.05 8.40 54 4.58 2.91 2.53 3.00 2.60 3.96 3.38 2.90 3.86 55 0.84 0.72 0.72 0.70 1.17 0.79 0.85 0.98 Table 4: Provided are the measured parameters under normal growth conditions of Sorghum accessions (Seed ID) according to the Correlation (Corr.) ID numbers (described in Table 2 above).

TABLE 5 Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance of maintenance of performance under drought conditions across sorghum varieties P Exp. Corr. Gene P Exp. Corr. Gene Name R value set Set ID Name R value set Set ID LYM208_ 0.90 3.78E− 6 17 LYM208_ 0.91 2.36E− 6 44 H8 04 H8 04 LYM208_ 0.94 7.14E− 4 53 LYM208_ 0.85 1.92E− 4 4 H8 05 H8 03 LYM208_ 0.94 4.98E− 4 12 WYM72 0.76 1.12E− 3 17 H8 05 02 WYM72 0.81 4.58E− 3 44 WYM74 0.92 1.95E− 6 52 03 04 WYM74 0.70 2.37E− 6 14 WYM74 0.90 4.28E− 6 49 02 04 WYM74 0.86 1.58E− 3 3 WYM76 0.76 1.12E− 9 23 03 02 WYM76 0.80 5.51E− 9 44 WYM77 0.83 3.19E− 6 3 03 03 WYM77 0.75 1.20E− 9 44 WYM77 0.76 1.15E− 9 43 02 02 WYM77 0.74 1.44E− 8 41 WYM77 0.83 3.10E− 8 35 02 03 WYM77 0.74 1.38E− 8 42 WYM77 0.78 7.20E− 8 51 02 03 WYM77 0.88 7.07E− 8 37 WYM77 0.72 1.92E− 5 2 04 02 WYM77 0.78 8.44E− 3 32 WYM77 0.78 8.15E− 3 40 03 03 WYM77 0.84 4.46E− 3 55 WYM77 0.70 2.41E− 3 34 03 02 WYM77 0.80 5.42E− 7 15 WYM79 0.86 1.24E− 6 48 03 03 WYM79 0.75 1.29E− 9 3 WYM79 0.78 8.15E− 3 17 02 03 WYM79 0.78 7.44E− 3 44 WYM79 0.75 1.28E− 3 43 03 02 WYM80 0.76 1.06E− 9 17 WYM80 0.74 1.49E− 9 40 02 02 WYM80 0.84 2.35E− 9 44 WYM80 0.81 4.72E− 9 36 03 03 WYM80 0.79 6.65E− 9 34 WYM80 0.72 2.00E− 2 7 03 02 WYM80 0.79 7.07E− 2 41 WYM80 0.80 4.98E− 2 35 03 03 WYM80 0.79 6.12E− 2 42 WYM80 0.83 3.12E− 2 51 03 03 WYM80 0.78 7.62E− 2 37 WYM80 0.84 2.61E− 4 53 03 03 WYM80 0.72 2.00E− 4 4 WYM80 0.84 2.40E− 4 12 02 03 WYM80 0.84 2.48E− 8 33 WYM80 0.71 2.18E− 8 50 03 02 WYM80 0.71 2.25E− 8 39 WYM80 0.91 2.17E− 8 35 02 04 WYM80 0.71 2.26E− 5 19 WYM80 0.77 9.78E− 5 28 02 03 WYM80 0.75 2.09E− 7 18 WYM80 0.82 6.38E− 7 27 02 03 WYM81 0.72 1.95E− 4 30 WYM81 0.78 7.16E− 8 16 02 03 WYM81 0.77 9.25E− 3 17 WYM81 0.75 1.28E− 3 43 03 02 WYM83 0.75 1.17E− 9 43 WYM83 0.77 9.91E− 2 31 02 03 WYM83 0.72 1.81E− 2 16 WYM83 0.78 7.80E− 8 33 02 03 WYM83 0.94 5.34E− 8 35 WYM83 0.73 1.56E− 8 42 05 02 WYM83 0.86 1.25E− 8 37 WYM83 0.71 2.11E− 3 17 03 02 WYM83 0.74 1.37E− 3 44 02 Table 5: Correlations (R) between the expression level of the genes in various tissues and the phenotypic performance. “Corr. ID”—correlation set ID according to the correlated parameters Table 2 above. “Exp. Set”—Expression set. “R” = Pearson correlation coefficient; “P” = p value.

Example 3 Production of Maize Transcriptome and High Throughput Correlation Analysis with Yield and NUE Related Parameters Using 44K Maize Oligonucleotide Micro-Arrays

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis between plant phenotype and gene expression level, the present inventors utilized a maize oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 44,000 maize genes and transcripts. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression with yield and NUE components or vigor related parameters, various plant characteristics of 12 different maize hybrids were analyzed. Among them, 10 hybrids encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Correlation of Maize hybrids across ecotypes grown under regular growth conditions

Experimental Procedures

12 Maize hybrids were grown in 3 repetitive plots, in field. Maize seeds were planted and plants were grown in the field using commercial fertilization and irrigation protocols. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression with NUE and yield components or vigor related parameters, the 12 different maize hybrids were analyzed. Among them, 10 hybrids encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Analyzed Maize tissues—All 10 selected maize hybrids were sample per each treatment. Plant tissues [Flag leaf, Flower meristem, Grain, Cobs, Internodes] growing under Normal conditions were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 6 below.

TABLE 6 Maize transcriptome expression sets Expression Set Set ID Maize field/Normal/Leaf 1 Maize field/Normal/Grain 2 Maize field/Normal/Grain distal 3 Maize field/Normal/Grain basal 4 Maize field/Normal/Internode lower 5 Maize field/Normal/Internode upper 6 Table 6: Provided are the maize transcriptome expression sets.

The following parameters were collected using digital imaging system:

Grain Area (cm²)—At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the ear. A sample of -200 grains were weight, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The grain area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Grain Length and Grain width (cm)—At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the ear. A sample of -200 grains were weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain lengths/or width (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Ear Area (cm²)—At the end of the growing period 5 ears were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The Ear area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of Ears.

Ear Length and Ear Width (cm)—At the end of the growing period 5 ears were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The Ear length and width (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of ears.

The image processing system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P43.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program—ImageJ 1.37, Java based image processing software, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is freely available on the internet at Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/. Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888×2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, image processing output data for seed area and seed length was saved to text files and analyzed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Additional parameters were collected either by sampling 6 plants per plot or by measuring the parameter across all the plants within the plot.

Normalized Grain Weight per plant (gr.)—At the end of the experiment all ears from plots within blocks A-C were collected. 6 ears were separately threshed and grains were weighted, all additional ears were threshed together and weighted as well. The average grain weight per ear was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by number of total ears per plot (based on plot). In case of 6 ears, the total grains weight of 6 ears was divided by 6.

Ear FW (gr.)—At the end of the experiment (when ears were harvested) total and 6 selected ears per plots within blocks A-C were collected separately. The plants with (total and 6) were weighted (gr.) separately and the average ear per plant was calculated for total (Ear FW per plot) and for 6 (Ear FW per plant).

Plant height and Ear height—Plants were characterized for height at harvesting. In each measure, 6 plants were measured for their height using a measuring tape. Height was measured from ground level to top of the plant below the tassel. Ear height was measured from the ground level to the place were the main ear is located

Leaf number per plant—Plants were characterized for leaf number during growing period at 5 time points. In each measure, plants were measured for their leaf number by counting all the leaves of 3 selected plants per plot.

The growth rate of leaf number was calculated using Formula VI as indicated above (Growth rate of plant leaf number=Regression coefficient of plant leaf number along time course).

Growth Rate of Vegetative Area

Vegetative area growth rate=Regression coefficient of vegetative area along time course.  Formula IX

SPAD—Chlorophyll content was determined using a Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter and measurement was performed 64 days post sowing. SPAD meter readings were done on young fully developed leaf. Three measurements per leaf were taken per plot. Data were taken after 46 and 54 days after sowing (DPS) Dry weight per plant—At the end of the experiment (when inflorescence were dry) all vegetative material from plots within blocks A-C were collected.

Dry weight=total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) after drying at 70° C. in oven for 48 hours; Harvest Index (HI) (Maize)—The harvest index was calculated using Formula X.

Harvest Index=Average grain dry weight per Ear/(Average vegetative dry weight per Ear+Average Ear dry weight).  Formula X:

Percent Filled Ear [%]—it was calculated as the percentage of the Ear area with grains out of the total ear.

Cob diameter [cm]—The diameter of the cob without grains was measured using a ruler.

Kernel Row Number per Ear—The number of rows in each ear was counted.

Experimental Results

12 different maize hybrids were grown and characterized for different parameters (Table 7). The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software (Tables 8-9) and a subsequent correlation analysis was performed. Results were then integrated to the database.

TABLE 7 Maize correlated parameters (vectors) Correlated parameter with Correlation ID Cob Diameter-mm 1 Ear FW per Plant-gr-based on 6 2 Ear Length-cm 3 FW per Plant-gr 4 Filled Ears per Plant 5 Growth Rate Leaf Num 6 Kernel Row Number per Ear 7 LAI 8 Normalized Grain Weight per plant-gr-based on all 9 Percent Filled Ear Length 10 Plant Height 31DPS-cm 11 Stalk Diameter Below Ear-mm 12 Stalk Diameter Lowest Internode-mm 13 Stalk Width 40DPS-mm 14 Tillers Num per Plant 15 Table 7. Provided are the maize correlated parameters (vectors). “FW” = Fresh Weight; “gr.” = grams; “LAI” = leaf area index; “cm” = centimeter; “SPAD” = chlorophyll levels.

Experimental Results

Six maize accessions were grown, and characterized for parameters, as described above. The average for each parameter was calculated using the JMP software, and values are summarized in Table 8 below. Subsequent correlation between the various transcriptome sets for all or sub set of lines was done by the bioinformatics unit and results were integrated into the database.

TABLE 8 Measured parameters in Maize accessions under normal conditions Ecotype/Treatment Line-1 Line-2 Line-3 Line-4 Line-5 Line-6 1 26.02 25.47 25.86 25.28 24.88 27.44 2 256.21 251.92 275.11 226.24 198.30 344.76 3 22.50 21.21 22.33 20.78 19.90 23.39 4 421.94 258.75 342.50 326.66 223.06 560.83 5 1.06 1.11 1.11 1.00 1.00 1.56 6 0.16 0.20 0.22 0.20 0.21 0.18 7 15.03 15.06 14.95 14.42 14.72 15.25 8 78.96 90.84 96.42 124.43 140.71 42.82 9 156.07 181.81 166.84 104.15 86.27 222.40 10 89.19 89.80 91.09 87.83 84.58 91.93 11 162.72 170.78 168.33 171.25 165.11 145.11 12 18.42 18.76 17.84 16.28 14.14 19.98 13 26.45 18.71 25.09 22.75 19.38 28.37 14 2.68 2.53 2.18 2.30 2.18 2.96 15 0.50 0.58 0.36 0.06 0.00 2.00 Table 8. Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in maize accessions (Seed ID) under regular growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

TABLE 9 Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance of maintenance of performance under drought conditions across maize lines P Exp. Corr. Gene P Exp. Corr. Gene Name R value set Set ID Name R value set Set ID LAB278_ 0.76 8.03E− 4 8 LAB278_ 0.82 4.54E− 1 14 H0 02 H0 02 LAB278_ 0.72 1.08E− 1 15 LAB278_ 0.77 7.19E− 1 7 H0 01 H0 02 LAB278_ 0.84 3.49E− 1 1 LAB278_ 0.78 6.69E− 1 2 H0 02 H0 02 LAB278_ 0.84 3.62E− 1 13 LAB278_ 0.77 7.58E− 1 9 H0 02 H0 02 LAB278_ 0.72 1.08E− 1 10 LAB278− 0.82 4.60E− 1 12 H0 01 H0 02 LAB278_ 0.86 2.67E− 1 4 LAB278_ 0.93 7.94E− 1 3 H0 02 H0 03 LNU74_ 0.84 3.76E− 2 7 LNU74_ 0.79 624E− 2 1 H109 02 H109 02 LNU74_ 0.72 1.05E− 2 2 LNU74_ 0.87 244E− 2 13 H109 01 H109 02 LNU74_ 0.81 4.97E− 2 4 LNU74_ 0.90 1.41E− 2 3 H109 02 H109 02 LNU74_ 0.90 1.55E− 1 8 LNU74_ 0.70 1.20E− 5 2 H109 02 H109 01 LNU74_ 0.76 7.93E− 5 10 LNU74_ 0.73 1.01E− 5 4 H109 02 H109 01 LYM350 0.71 1.15E− 4 7 LYM350 0.75 8.38E− 1 14 01 02 LYM350 0.77 7.58E− 1 7 LYM350 0.85 3.25E− 1 1 02 02 LYM350 0.80 5.67E− 1 2 LYM350 0.87 2.42E− 1 13 02 02 LYM350 0.79 6.33E− 1 9 LYM350 0.82 4.64E− 1 10 02 02 LYM350 0.84 3.60E− 1 12 LYM350 0.86 2.74E− 1 4 02 02 LYM350 0.95 3.31E− 1 3 LYM350 0.73 9.73E− 5 6 03 02 LYM490_ 0.73 9.97E− 5 10 LYM490_ 0.72 1.08E− 5 3 H1 02 H1 01 WYM104 0.70 1.18E− 2 8 WYM104 0.77 7.08E− 1 8 01 02 WYM105 0.76 8.19E− 5 10 WYM106 0.92 8.99E− 2 13 02 03 WYM106 0.78 6.67E− 2 4 WYM106 0.72 1.06E− 2 3 02 01 WYM106 0.83 4.18E− 1 14 WYM106 0.74 8.96E− 1 15 02 02 WYM107 0.76 7.91E− 4 13 WYM107 0.74 9.30E− 4 3 02 02 WYM107 0.86 2.87E− 5 13 WYM107 0.74 9.56E− 5 10 02 02 WYM107 0.83 3.97E− 5 3 WYM108 0.71 1.10E− 2 14 02 01 WYM108 0.75 8.84E− 2 15 WYM108 0.77 7.24E− 2 1 02 02 WYM108 0.97 1.14E− 2 13 WYM108 0.90 1.32E− 2 4 03 02 WYM108 0.75 8.66E− 2 5 WYM108 0.87 2.29E− 2 3 02 02 WYM108 0.96 2.85E− 4 14 WYM108 0.71 1.13E− 4 15 03 01 WYM108 0.74 8.94E− 4 1 WYM108 0.84 3.86E− 4 13 02 02 WYM108 0.75 8.65E− 4 12 WYM108 0.88 2.16E− 4 4 02 02 WYM108 0.84 3.60E− 1 11 WYM108 0.98 6.53E− 1 8 02 04 WYM108 0.73 1.01E− 5 14 WYM108 0.77 7.39E− 5 13 01 02 WYM108 0.76 8.21E− 5 4 WYM42 0.75 8.30E− 4 15 02 02 WYM42 0.81 5.10E− 4 2 WYM42 0.83 4.22E− 4 9 02 02 WYM42 0.82 4.65E− 4 10 WYM42 0.76 8.21E− 4 12 02 02 WYM42 0.78 6.62E− 4 5 WYM42 0.74 9.51E− 5 10 02 02 WYM42 0.80 5.77E− 5 12 WYM43 0.79 6.26E− 2 11 02 02 WYM43 0.89 1.79E− 2 8 WYM44 0.75 8.72E− 1 8 02 02 WYM44 0.74 9.07E− 5 14 WYM46 0.72 1.08E− 4 9 02 01 WYM46 0.80 5.41E− 4 12 WYM46 0.80 5.47E− 1 8 02 02 WYM47 0.74 8.96E− 2 1 WYM47 0.81 5.09E− 2 2 02 02 WYM47 0.86 2.73E− 2 13 WYM47 0.74 9.51E− 2 9 02 02 WYM47 0.86 2.99E− 2 10 WYM47 0.88 2.01E− 2 3 02 02 WYM47 0.94 6.10E− 4 11 WYM47 0.79 6.34E− 4 8 03 02 WYM47 0.92 8.73E− 1 8 WYM47 0.78 6.55E− 5 6 03 02 WYM48 0.89 1.72E− 4 14 WYM48 0.79 6.00E− 4 15 02 02 WYM48 0.83 4.27E− 4 1 WYM48 0.76 8.23E− 4 13 02 02 WYM48 0.73 9.69E− 4 9 WYM48 0.73 1.01E− 4 12 02 01 WYM48 0.88 2.02E− 4 4 WYM48 0.73 1.01E− 4 5 02 01 WYM48 0.71 1.14E− 4 3 WYM48 0.70 1.19E− 5 14 01 01 WYM48 0.73 1.01E− 5 15 WYM48 0.80 5.64E− 5 7 01 02 WYM48 0.73 1.03E− 5 9 WYM51 0.73 1.01E− 2 13 01 01 WYM51 0.76 7.92E− 2 3 WYM51 0.80 5.80E− 4 13 02 02 WYM51 0.71 1.10E− 1 8 WYM51 0.74 9.33E− 5 14 01 02 WYM51 0.81 5.10E− 5 1 WYM51 0.85 3.02E− 5 2 02 02 WYM51 0.81 4.98E− 5 13 WYM51 0.70 1.19E− 5 9 02 01 WYM51 0.88 2.19E− 5 10 WYM51 0.74 9.14E− 5 12 02 02 WYM51 0.81 4.82E− 5 4 WYM51 0.84 3.68E− 5 3 02 02 WYM52 0.81 5.32E− 1 15 WYM52 0.76 8.23E− 1 1 02 02 WYM52 0.72 1.10E− 1 4 WYM52 0.82 4.75E− 1 5 01 02 WYM55 0.75 8.69E− 2 14 WYM55 0.72 1.04E− 2 13 02 01 WYM55 0.81 5.13E− 2 4 WYM55 0.73 9.72E− 4 1 02 02 WYM55 0.78 6.90E− 4 13 WYM55 0.85 3.02E− 4 4 02 02 WYM55 0.91 1.13E− 5 14 WYM55 0.95 3.79E− 5 15 02 03 WYM55 0.93 7.25E− 5 1 WYM55 0.90 1.53E− 5 2 03 02 WYM55 0.87 2.58E− 5 13 WYM55 0.80 5.48E− 5 9 02 02 WYM55 0.74 9.06E− 5 10 WYM55 0.81 5.28E− 5 12 02 09 WYM55 0.90 1.50E− 5 4 WYM55 0.91 1.07E− 5 5 02 02 WYM55 0.79 6.04E− 5 3 WYM56 0.79 6.26E− 1 8 02 02 WYM56 0.72 1.09E− 5 7 WHM56 0.71 1.14E− 5 9 01 01 WYM57 0.75 8.34E− 2 8 WYM57 0.72 1.04E− 4 11 02 01 WYM57 0.75 8.77E− 4 6 WYM57 0.88 2.07E− 1 8 02 02 WYM57 0.80 5.54E− 5 8 WYM58 0.78 6.80E− 4 15 02 02 WYM58 0.76 8.01E− 4 1 WYM58 0.78 6.65E− 4 4 02 02 WYM58 0.82 4.62E− 4 5 WYM58 0.71 1.13E− 1 9 02 01 WYM58 0.73 9.73E− 1 10 WYM58 0.74 9.07E− 1 12 02 02 WYM58 0.85 3.38E− 5 8 WYM59 0.84 3.64E− 2 1 02 02 WYM59 0.78 6.84E− 2 2 WYM59 0.95 3.51E− 2 13 02 03 WYM59 0.91 1.26E− 2 4 WYM59 0.72 1.07E− 2 5 02 01 WYM59 0.80 5.71E− 2 3 WYM60 0.72 1.08E− 4 10 02 01 WYM60 0.94 4.67E− 1 14 WYM60 0.96 2.41E− 1 15 03 03 WYM60 0.84 3.65E− 1 7 WYM60 0.99 2.79E− 1 1 02 04 WYM60 0.98 9.07E− 1 2 WYM60 0.77 7.26E− 1 13 04 02 WYM60 0.92 9.66E− 1 9 WYM60 0.82 4.37E− 1 10 03 02 WYM60 0.87 2.40E− 1 12 WYM60 0.92 8.62E− 1 4 02 03 WYM60 0.93 7.16E− 1 5 WYM60 0.93 7.76E− 1 3 03 03 WYM61 0.97 1.27E− 1 14 WYM61 0.84 3.79E− 1 15 03 02 WYM61 0.79 5.91E− 1 1 WYM61 0.82 4.69E− 1 4 02 02 WYM61 0.75 8.30E− 1 5 WYM61 0.96 2.90E− 5 14 02 03 WYM61 0.85 3.04E− 5 15 WYM61 0.71 1.10E− 5 7 02 01 WYM61 0.91 1.11E− 5 1 WYM61 0.83 4.06E− 5 2 02 02 WYM61 0.80 5.41E− 5 13 WYM61 0.77 7.23E− 5 9 02 02 WYM61 0.82 4.58E− 5 12 WYM61 0.93 6.82E− 5 4 02 03 WYM61 0.77 7.24E− 5 5 WYM61 0.88 2.19E− 5 3 02 02 WYM62 0.71 1.13E− 4 9 WYM62 0.91 1.15E− 5 14 01 02 WYM62 0.84 1.73E− 5 15 WYM62 0.81 5.05E− 5 7 02 02 WYM62 0.92 9.43E− 5 1 WYM62 0.85 3.29E− 5 2 03 02 WYM62 0.83 3.86E− 5 13 WYM62 0.83 3.87E− 5 9 02 02 WYM62 0.76 8.20E− 5 10 WYM62 0.87 2.29E− 5 12 02 02 WYM62 0.93 7.66E− 5 4 WYM62 0.76 8.00E− 5 5 03 02 WYM62 0.93 6.96E− 5 3 WYM63 0.73 9.91E− 2 14 03 02 WYM63 0.81 4.94E− 2 15 WYM63 0.80 5.62E− 2 7 02 02 WYM63 0.87 2.40E− 2 1 WYM63 0.93 6.48E− 2 2 02 03 WYM63 0.97 9.98E− 2 9 WYM63 0.98 8.42E− 2 10 04 04 WYM63 0.98 7.24E− 2 12 WYM63 0.77 7.59E− 2 4 04 02 WYM63 0.77 7.34E− 2 5 WYM63 0.93 7.59E− 2 3 02 03 WYM63 0.71 1.14E− 4 13 WYM63 0.72 1.04E− 1 10 01 01 WYM64 0.73 9.94E− 2 8 WYM65 0.86 2.69E− 4 14 02 02 WYM65 0.79 6.15E− 4 9 WYM65 0.89 1.77E− 4 12 02 02 WYM65 0.95 3.57E− 1 14 WYM65 0.80 5.45E− 1 15 03 02 WYM65 0.85 3.37E− 1 7 WYM65 0.79 5.88E− 1 1 02 02 WYM65 0.72 1.05E− 1 2 WYM65 0.78 6.67E− 1 9 01 02 WYM65 0.81 5.33E− 1 12 WYM65 0.81 5.30E− 1 4 02 02 WYM65 0.71 1.12E− 1 5 WYM65 0.78 6.69E− 1 3 01 02 WYM65 0.90 1.39E− 5 14 WYM65 0.97 1.40E− 5 15 02 03 WYM65 0.83 4.25E− 5 7 WYM65 0.99 1.29E− 5 1 02 04 WYM65 0.99 2.82E− 5 2 WYM65 0.84 3.52E− 5 13 04 02 WYM65 0.94 5.10E− 5 9 WYM65 0.89 1.75E− 5 10 03 02 WYM65 0.91 1.21E− 5 12 WYM65 0.94 5.74E− 5 4 02 03 WYM65 0.93 6.24E− 5 5 WYM65 0.97 1.66E− 5 3 03 03 WYM66 0.76 7.82E− 4 12 WYM66 0.89 1.73E− 1 8 02 02 WYM67 0.76 8.19E− 4 14 WYM67 0.92 9.94E− 4 15 02 03 WYM67 0.94 6.11E− 4 1 WYM67 0.89 1.87E− 4 2 03 02 WYM67 0.79 6.29E− 4 13 WYM67 0.92 8.36E− 4 4 02 03 WYM67 0.94 5.61E− 4 5 WYM67 0.76 7.92E− 4 3 03 02 WYM67 0.72 1.08E− 1 8 WYM67 0.70 1.20E− 5 10 01 01 WYM69 0.86 2.68E− 4 14 WYM69 0.71 1.16E− 4 7 02 01 WYM69 0.72 1.08E− 4 9 WYM69 0.75 8.28E− 4 12 01 02 WYM69 0.93 7.43E− 1 8 WYM69 0.81 5.30E− 5 10 03 02 WYM98 0.77 7.43E− 2 7 WYM98 0.76 8.12E− 5 14 02 02 WYM98 0.86 2.98E− 5 15 WYM98 0.85 3.02 5 1 02 02 WYM98 0.82 4.46E− 5 2 WYM98 0.78 6.57E− 5 13 02 02 WYM98 0.77 7.61E− 5 10 WYM98 0.78 6.88E− 5 12 02 02 WYM98 0.90 1.51E− 5 4 WYM98 0.89 1.85E− 5 5 02 02 WYM98 0.77 7.11E− 5 3 02 Table 9. Correlations (R) between the genes expression levels in various tissues and the phenotypic performance. “Corr. ID”—correlation set ID according to the correlated parameters Table 7 above. “Exp. Set”—Expression set. “R” = Pearson correlation coefficient; “P” = p value.

Example 4 Production of Maize Transcriptome and High Throughput Correlation Analysis Using 60K Maize Oligonucleotide Micro-Array

To produce a high throughput correlation analysis, the present inventors utilized a Maize oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) chem. (dot) agilent (dot) coin/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 60K Maize genes and transcripts designed based on data from Public databases (Example 1). To define correlations between the levels of RNA expression and yield, biomass components or vigor related parameters, various plant characteristics of 12 different Maize hybrids were analyzed. Among them, 10 hybrids encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Experimental Procedures

12 Hybrid plants were grown in the field under normal growth conditions. Five tissues at different developmental stages including Ear (flowering −R1), leaf (flowering −R1), Leaf Grain from the basal ear part, Grain from the distal ear, representing different plant characteristics, were sampled and RNA was extracted as described in “GENERAL EXPERIMENTAL AND BIOINFORMATICS METHODS”. For convenience, each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 10 below.

TABLE 10 Tissues used for Maize transcriptome expression sets Expression Set Set ID Ear normal Flowering-R1 1 Ear normal R2-R3 2 Internode normal V6 3 Internode normal Flowering-R1 4 Internode normal R2-R3 5 Leaf normal V6 6 Leaf normal Flowering-R1 7 Distal grain normal R3-R5 8 Table 10: Provided are the identification (ID) letters of each of the Maize expression sets (1-8). The following parameters were collected:

Grain Area (cm²)—At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the ear. A sample of -200 grains were weight, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The grain area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Grain Length and Grain width (cm)—At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the ear. A sample of -200 grains were weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain lengths/or width (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Ear Area (cm²)—At the end of the growing period 6 ears were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The Ear area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of Ears.

Ear Length and Ear Width (cm)—At the end of the growing period 6 ears were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The Ear length and width (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of ears.

The image processing system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P43.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program—ImageJ 1.37, Java based image processing software, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is freely available on the internet at Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/. Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888×2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, image processing output data for seed area and seed length was saved to text files and analyzed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Additional parameters were collected either by sampling 6 plants per plot or by measuring the parameter across all the plants within the plot.

Normalized Grain Weight per plant (gr.)—At the end of the experiment all ears from plots within blocks A-C were collected. 6 ears were separately threshed and grains were weighted, all additional ears were threshed together and weighted as well. The grain weight was normalized using the relative humidity to be 0%. The normalized average grain weight per ear was calculated by dividing the total normalized grain weight by the total number of ears per plot (based on plot). In case of 6 ears, the total grains weight of 6 ears was divided by 6.

Ear FW (gr.)—At the end of the experiment (when ears were harvested) total and 6 selected ears per plots within blocks A-C were collected separately. The plants with (total and 6) were weighted (gr.) separately and the average ear per plant was calculated for total (Ear FW per plot) and for 6 (Ear FW per plant).

Plant height and Ear height—Plants were characterized for height at harvesting. In each measure, 6 plants were measured for their height using a measuring tape. Height was measured from ground level to top of the plant below the tassel. Ear height was measured from the ground level to the place were the main ear is located

Leaf number per plant—Plants were characterized for leaf number during growing period at 5 time points. In each measure, plants were measured for their leaf number by counting all the leaves of 3 selected plants per plot.

Growth Rate was calculated using regression coefficient of leaf number change a long time course.

SPAD—Chlorophyll content was determined using a Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter and measurement was performed 64 days post sowing. SPAD meter readings were done on young fully developed leaf. Three measurements per leaf were taken per plot. Data were taken after 46 and 54 days after sowing (DPS).

Dry weight per plant—At the end of the experiment when all vegetative material from plots within blocks A-C were collected, weighted and divided by the number of plants.

Ear diameter [cm]—The diameter of the ear at the mid of the ear was measured using a ruler.

Cob diameter [cm]—The diameter of the cob without grains was measured using a ruler.

Kernel Row Number per Ear—The number of rows in each ear was counted.

The average of 6 ears per plot was calculated.

TABLE 11 Maize correlated parameters (vectors) Correlated parameter with Correlation ID Cob Diameter mm 1 DW per Plant based on 6 gr. 2 Ear Area cm² 3 Ear FW per Plant based on 6 4 gr. Ear Height cm 5 Ear Length cm 6 Ear Width cm 7 Ears FW per plant based on 8 all gr. Filled per Whole Ear 9 Grain Area cm² 10 Grain Length cm 11 Grain Width cm 12 Growth Rate Leaf Num 13 Kernel Row Number per Ear 14 Leaf Number per Plant 15 Normalized Grain Weight per 16 Plant based on all gr. Normalized Grain Weight per 17 plant based on 6 gr. Percent Filled Ear 18 Plant Height per Plot cm 19 SPAD 46DPS TP2 20 SPAD 54DPS TP5 21 Table 11. Provided are the maize correlated parameters (vectors). “DW” = Dry Weight; “FW” = Fresh Weight; “gr.” = grams; “cm” = centimeter; “SPAD” = chlorophyll levels. “TP2” = time point 2; “TP5” = time point 5.

Experimental Results

Twelve maize accessions were grown, and characterized for parameters, as described above. The average for each parameter was calculated using the JMP software, and values are summarized in Tables 12-13 below. Subsequent correlation between the various transcriptome sets for all or sub set of lines was done by the bioinformatics unit and results were integrated into the database.

TABLE 12 Measured parameters in Maize Hybrid Ecotype/ Treatment Line-1 Line-2 Line-3 Line-4 Line-5 Line-6 Line-7 Line-8 1 28.96 23.78 28.05 25.73 28.72 25.78 26.43 25.19 2 657.50 472.02 641.11 580.56 655.56 569.44 511.11 544.44 3 85.06 77.91 90.51 95.95 91.62 72.41 74.03 76.53 4 245.83 189.88 262.22 263.89 272.22 177.78 188.89 197.22 5 135.17 116.31 131.97 114.00 135.28 94.28 120.94 107.72 6 19.69 19.05 20.52 21.34 20.92 18.23 19.02 18.57 7 5.58 5.10 5.67 5.53 5.73 5.23 5.22 5.33 8 278.19 190.30 288.28 247.88 280.11 175.84 192.47 204.70 9 0.92 0.95 0.93 0.92 0.91 0.95 0.87 0.94 10 0.75 0.67 0.75 0.77 0.81 0.71 0.71 0.75 11 1.17 1.07 1.18 1.20 1.23 1.12 1.14 1.13 12 0.81 0.79 0.80 0.80 0.82 0.80 0.79 0.84 13 0.28 0.22 0.28 0.27 0.31 0.24 0.24 0.27 14 16.17 15.02 16.20 15.89 16.17 15.17 16.00 14.83 15 12.00 8.40 11.69 11.78 11.94 12.33 12.44 12.22 16 153.90 120.96 152.50 159.16 140.46 117.14 123.24 131.27 17 140.68 128.93 153.67 176.98 156.61 119.67 119.69 133.51 18 80.62 94.34 82.14 92.71 80.38 82.76 73.25 81.06 19 278.08 269.79 275.13 238.50 286.94 224.83 264.44 251.61 21 54.28 57.18 56.01 59.68 54.77 59.14 57.99 60.36 20 51.67 56.41 53.55 55.21 55.30 59.35 58.48 55.88 Table 12. Provided are the measured parameters under normal growth conditions of maize accessions according to the Correlation (Corn) ID numbers (described in Table 16 above).

TABLE 13 Measured parameters in Maize Hybrid additional parameters Ecotype/ Treatment Line-9 Line-10 Line-11 Line-12 1 26.67 2 574.17 522.22 3 55.20 95.36 4 141.11 261.11 5 60.44 112.50 6 16.69 21.70 7 4.12 5.58 8 142.72 264.24 9 0.80 0.96 10 0.50 0.76 11 0.92 1.18 12 0.67 0.81 13 0.19 0.30 14 14.27 15.39 15 9.28 12.56 16 40.84 170.66 17 54.32 173.23 18 81.06 91.60 19 163.78 278.44 21 54.77 51.39 61.14 53.34 20 52.98 53.86 59.75 49.99 Table 13. Provided are the measured parameters under normal growth conditions of maize accessions according to the Correlation (Corr.) ID numbers (described in Table 16 above).

TABLE 14 Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance of maintenance of performance under drought conditions across maize lines Corr. Corr. P Exp. Set Exp. Set Gene Name R value set ID Gene Name R P value set ID LAB278_ 0.79 6.01E− 2 9 LAB278_ 0.77 7.11E− 2 18 H0 02 H0 02 LNU74_ 0.74 5.73E− 1 16 LNU74_ 0.81 2.65E− 1 15 H109 02 H109 02 LNU74_ 0.82 2.31E− 1 13 LNU74_ 0.73 6.23E− 1 11 H109 02 H109 02 LNU74_ 0.71 7.22E− 1 9 LNU74_ 0.73 6.08E− 1 10 H109 02 H109 02 LNU74_ 0.72 6.53E− 1 7 LNU74_ 0.76 1.86E− 3 15 H109 02 H109 02 LNU74_ 0.78 6.95E− 2 6 LNU74_ 0.73 9.68E− 2 18 H109 02 H109 02 LYM350 0.75 3.19E− 5 15 LYM350 0.86 5.88E− 5 11 02 03 LYM350 0.81 1.50E− 5 10 LYM350 0.78 3.76E− 7 2 02 02 LYM350 0.81 1.58E− 8 1 LYM350 0.77 2.58E− 8 13 02 02 LYM350 0.85 7.38E− 8 2 LYM350 0.71 4.75E− 8 5 03 02 LYM350 0.81 1.46E− 8 7 LYM350 0.82 1.19E− 8 8 02 02 LYM350 0.75 3.39E− 8 4 LYM350 0.80 5.47E− 2 9 02 02 LYM350 0.86 2.75E− 2 12 LYM490_ 0.72 6.99E− 4 15 02 H1 02 LYM490_ 0.97 2.52E− 7 3 LYM490_ 0.99 3.12E− 7 16 H1 04 H1 05 LYM490_ 0.81 2.83E− 7 14 LYM490_ 0.86 1.26E− 7 13 H1 02 H1 02 LYM490_ 0.81 2.65E− 7 21 LYM490_ 0.94 1.56E− 7 11 H1 02 H1 03 LYM490_ 0.94 1.57E− 7 6 LYM490_ 0.83 2.21E− 7 9 H1 03 H1 02 LYM490_ 0.92 3.00E− 7 10 LYM490_ 0.84 1.72E− 7 18 H1 03 H1 02 LYM490_ 0.87 1.13E− 7 19 LYM490_ 0.87 1.14E− 7 5 H1 02 H1 02 LYM490_ 0.95 1.25E− 7 7 LYM490_ 0.83 1.97E− 7 8 H1 03 H1 02 LYM490_ 0.83 2.13E− 7 12 LYM490_ 0.90 5.79E− 7 4 H1 02 H1 03 LYM490_ 0.99 9.71E− 7 17 WYM104 0.76 2.85E− 5 9 H1 06 02 WYM104 0.70 1.21E− 4 1 WYM104 0.83 2.21E− 4 14 01 02 WYM104 0.84 1.72E− 7 3 WYM104 0.74 5.98E− 7 16 02 02 WYM104 0.77 4.37E− 7 14 WYM104 0.87 1.16E− 7 6 02 02 WYM104 0.89 2.27E− 7 18 WYM104 0.79 3.32E− 7 4 02 02 WYM104 0.79 3.32E− 7 17 WYM104 0.75 1.90E− 3 15 02 02 WYM104 0.74 2.34E− 3 11 WYM104 0.74 2.19E− 3 10 02 02 WYM104 0.73 2.47E− 3 7 WYM104 0.71 3.15E− 3 12 02 02 WYM105 0.70 5.09E− 5 18 WYM105 0.74 5.54E− 4 14 02 02 WYM105 0.74 5.90E− 4 5 WYM105 0.81 4.82E− 7 1 02 02 WYM105 0.86 1.28E− 1 9 WYM105 0.86 1.31E− 1 19 02 02 WYM105 0.81 2.65E− 1 5 WYM105 0.71 7.62E− 1 12 02 02 WYM105 0.74 3.68E− 8 15 WYM105 0.85 3.10E− 2 3 02 02 WYM105 0.88 1.97E− 2 16 WYM105 0.85 3.38E− 2 13 02 02 WYM105 0.80 5.53E− 2 11 WYM105 0.82 4.66E− 2 6 02 02 WYM105 0.75 8.50E− 2 18 WYM105 0.78 6.78E− 2 7 02 02 WYM105 0.76 7.98E− 2 8 WYM105 0.82 4.37E− 2 4 02 02 WYM105 0.81 4.85E− 2 17 WYM106 0.83 1.12E− 8 1 02 02 WYM106 0.75 3.16E− 8 13 WYM106 0.81 1.41E− 8 2 02 02 WYM107 0.77 7.33E− 4 1 WYM107 0.80 3.13E− 4 2 02 02 WYM107 0.72 6.78E− 1 12 WYM107 0.78 6.76E− 2 14 02 02 WYM107 0.76 7.67E− 2 2 WYM108 0.71 4.92E− 5 10 02 02 WYM108 0.88 2.08E− 4 1 WYM108 0.87 1.12E− 4 3 02 02 WYM108 0.81 2.62E− 4 16 WYM108 0.98 1.20E− 4 14 02 04 WYM108 0.76 4.77E− 4 13 WYM108 0.88 9.41E− 4 11 02 03 WYM108 0.83 2.07E− 4 6 WYM108 0.7% 4.00E− 4 10 02 02 WYM108 0.75 5.26E− 4 5 WYM108 0.84 1.72E− 4 7 02 02 WYM108 0.87 1.11E− 4 8 WYM108 0.90 5.64E− 4 4 02 03 WYM108 0.83 1.97E− 4 17 WYM108 0.76 4.64E− 7 3 02 02 WYM108 0.77 4.13E− 7 16 WYM108 0.76 4.79E− 7 6 02 02 WYM108 0.77 4.08E− 7 9 WYM108 0.88 8.87E− 7 18 02 03 WYM108 0.87 1.08E−02 7 19 WYM108 0.77 4.20E−02 7 5 WYM108 0.78 4.00E−02 7 17 WYM108 0.79 3.51E−02 1 9 WYM108 0.77 4.11E−02 1 19 WYM108 0.92 1.06E−03 8 3 WYM108 0.82 1.35E−02 8 16 WYM108 0.71 4.90E−02 8 14 WYM108 0.78 2.29E−02 8 13 WYM108 0.82 1.17E−02 8 11 WYM108 0.89 3.31E−03 8 6 WYM108 0.74 3.54E−02 8 10 WYM108 0.82 1.19E−02 8 2 WYM108 0.92 1.30E−03 8 7 WYM108 0.90 2.59E−03 8 8 WYM108 0.95 2.85E−04 8 4 WYM108 0.85 7.71E−03 8 17 WYM108 0.72 1.93E−02 6 19 WYM108 0.84 4.53E−03 3 15 WYM108 0.79 1.07E−02 3 11 WYM108 0.79 1.07E−02 3 10 WYM108 0.72 2.86E−02 3 7 WYM108 0.75 1.91E−02 3 12 WYM108 0.73 9.70E−02 2 3 WYM108 0.77 7.48E−02 2 6 WYM108 0.71 1.15E−01 2 10 WYM108 0.82 4.75E−02 2 17 WYM42 0.71 7.65E−02 4 14 WYM42 0.70 7.93E−02 7 19 WYM42 0.88 9.54E−03 1 3 WYM42 0.85 1.60E−02 1 16 WYM42 0.73 6.10E−02 1 14 WYM42 0.72 6.79E−02 1 11 WYM42 0.89 7.62E−03 1 6 WYM42 0.71 7.23E−02 1 9 WYM42 0.76 4.76E−02 1 18 WYM42 0.87 1.07E−02 1 19 WYM42 0.83 2.12E−02 1 5 WYM42 0.78 3.92E−02 1 7 WYM42 0.79 3.41E−02 1 8 WYM42 0.82 2.48E−02 1 4 WYM42 0.85 1.65E−02 1 17 WYM42 0.78 1.29E−02 6 1 WYM42 0.72 1.10E−01 2 12 WYM43 0.82 2.32E−02 1 3 WYM43 0.80 3.01E−02 1 16 WYM43 0.80 3.06E−02 1 11 WYM43 0.77 4.38E−02 1 6 WYM43 0.79 3.34E−02 1 10 WYM43 0.70 7.78E−02 1 19 WYM43 0.80 3.09E−02 1 5 WYM43 0.76 4.81E−02 1 7 WYM43 0.71 7.66E−02 1 8 WYM43 0.73 6.11E−02 1 12 WYM43 0.79 3.51H−02 1 4 WYM43 0.85 1.54E−02 1 17 WYM44 0.80 1.65E−02 5 3 WYM44 0.75 3.10E−02 5 16 WYM44 0.73 4.01E−02 5 11 WYM44 0.85 8.13E−03 5 6 WYM44 0.75 3.14E−02 5 7 WYM44 0.71 4.64E−02 5 8 WYM44 0.80 1.77E−02 5 4 WYM44 0.76 3.01E−02 5 17 WYM44 0.71 1.15E−01 4 1 WYM44 0.70 1.18E−01 7 1 WYM44 0.72 6.99E−02 1 2 WYM44 0.86 2.73E−02 2 3 WYM44 0.73 9.73E−02 2 16 WYM44 0.70 1.21E−01 2 13 WYM44 0.87 2.46E−02 2 11 WYM44 0.84 3.44E−02 2 6 WYM44 0.87 4.48E−02 2 7 WYM44 0.79 6.07E−02 2 8 WYM44 0.85 3.19E−02 2 4 WYM44 0.85 3.29F−02 2 17 WYM46 0.72 6.62E−02 4 14 WYM46 0.79 3.46E−02 4 13 WYM46 0.70 7.79E−02 4 2 WYM46 0.79 3.33E−02 1 3 WYM46 0.75 5.45E−02 1 16 WYM46 0.90 5.88E−03 1 14 WYM46 0.71 7.63E−02 1 11 WYM46 0.82 2.40E−02 1 6 WYM46 0.75 5.23E−02 1 19 WYM46 0.90 5.71E−03 1 5 WYM46 0.76 4.53E−02 1 7 WYM46 0.91 4.99E−03 1 8 WYM46 0.88 8.45E−03 1 4 WYM46 0.76 4.71E−02 1 17 WYM46 0.70 5.11E−02 8 5 WYM46 0.74 9.12E−02 2 12 WYM47 0.74 5.93E−02 4 3 WYM47 0.84 1.75E−02 4 16 WYM47 0.78 3.66E−02 4 13 WYM47 0.80 3.15E−02 4 11 WYM47 0.84 1.86E−02 4 9 WYM47 0.86 1.38E−02 4 10 WYM47 0.95 1.12E−03 4 19 WYM47 0.93 2.40E−03 4 5 WYM47 0.90 6.28E−03 4 7 WYM47 0.78 3.75E−02 4 8 WYM47 0.86 1.28E−02 4 12 WYM47 0.70 7.98E−02 4 4 WYM47 0.77 4.41E−02 4 17 WYM47 0.75 5.46E−02 7 3 WYM47 0.82 2.37E−02 7 16 WYM47 0.79 3.26E−02 7 13 WYM47 0.73 6.09E−02 7 6 WYM47 0.79 3.63E−02 7 9 WYM47 0.74 5.81E−02 7 10 WYM47 0.94 1.47E−03 7 19 WYM47 0.80 3.10E−02 7 5 WYM47 0.79 3.63E−02 7 7 WYM47 0.75 5.04E−02 7 8 WYM47 0.73 6.24E−02 7 12 WYM47 0.75 5.11E−02 7 17 WYM47 0.78 4.00E−02 1 16 WYM47 0.78 3.93E−02 1 13 WYM47 0.74 5.93E−02 1 11 WYM47 0.82 2.49E−02 1 9 WYM47 0.83 2.12E−02 1 10 WYM47 0.89 6.74E−03 1 19 WYM47 0.83 2.17E−02 1 5 WYM47 0.83 2.05E−02 1 7 WYN147 0.88 9.38E−03 1 12 WYM47 0.86 5.97E−03 8 1 WYM47 0.79 1.92E−02 8 13 WYM47 0.81 1.58E−02 8 2 WYM47 0.72 1.90E−02 6 3 WYM47 0.80 5.44E−03 6 16 WYM47 0.71 2.19E−02 6 13 WYM47 0.70 2.32E−02 6 6 WYM47 0.72 1.78E−02 6 9 WYM47 0.73 1.73E−02 6 10 WYM47 0.85 1.72E−03 6 19 WYM47 0.71 2.07E−02 6 5 WYM47 0.77 9.12E−03 6 7 WYM47 0.74 1.52E−02 6 12 WYM47 0.74 1.38E−02 6 17 WYM47 0.77 1.52E−02 3 3 WYM47 0.82 6.40E−03 3 16 WYM47 0.74 2.31E−02 3 13 WYM47 0.88 1.88E−03 3 11 WYM47 0.72 2.77E−02 3 6 WYM47 0.76 1.78E−02 3 9 WYM47 0.92 4.39E−04 3 10 WYM47 0.85 4.01E−03 3 19 WYM47 0.75 2.00E−02 3 5 WYM47 0.86 2.75E−03 3 7 WYM47 0.94 1.94E−04 3 12 WYM47 0.87 2.48E−03 3 17 WYM47 0.70 1.21E−01 2 3 WYM47 0.72 1.10E−01 2 14 WYM47 0.80 5.45E−02 2 11 WYM47 0.75 8.63E−02 2 6 WYM47 0.74 9.41E−02 2 19 WYM47 0.73 1.00E−01 2 4 WYM48 0.80 1.68E−02 5 9 WYM48 0.76 4.67E−02 7 9 WYM48 0.86 1.40E−02 1 9 WYM48 0.81 2.58E−02 1 12 WYM48 0.72 1.09E−01 2 12 WYM51 0.82 2.43E−02 4 3 WYM51 0.78 3.85E−02 4 14 WYM51 0.70 7.79E−02 4 11 WYM51 0.84 1.71E−02 4 6 WYM51 0.75 5.10E−02 4 8 WYM51 0.86 1.25E−02 4 4 WYM51 0.75 4.98E−02 4 17 WYM51 0.78 3.71E−02 1 16 WYM51 0.74 5.74E−02 1 11 WYM51 0.98 1.75E−04 1 9 WYM51 0.82 2.28E−02 1 10 WYM51 0.89 6.88E−03 1 19 WYM51 0.80 3.01E−02 1 5 WYM51 0.83 2.10E−02 1 7 WYM51 0.90 6.23E−03 1 12 WYM51 0.70 7.79E−02 1 17 WYM51 0.87 2.50E−02 2 3 WYM51 0.76 8.24E−02 2 16 WYM51 0.84 3.58E−02 2 11 WYM51 0.91 1.07E−02 2 6 WYM51 0.72 1.05E−01 2 7 WYM51 0.80 5.39E−02 2 4 WYM51 0.83 4.06E−02 2 17 WYM52 0.81 1.43E−02 8 1 WYM52 0.77 2.66E−02 8 3 WYM52 0.90 2.20E−03 8 16 WYM52 0.88 3.75E−03 8 13 WYM52 0.77 2.48E−02 8 11 WYM52 0.79 2.00E−02 8 10 WYM52 0.89 3.02E−03 8 *» WYM52 0.72 4.46E−02 8 5 WYM52 0.94 6.36E−04 8 7 WYM52 0.95 2.33E−04 8 8 WYM52 0.88 4.32E−03 8 4 WYM55 0.83 1.17E−02 5 12 WYM55 0.85 3.37E−02 4 1 WYM55 0.85 1.45E−02 4 2 WYM55 0.75 5.09E−02 7 2 WYM55 0.86 2.98E−02 1 1 WYM55 0.70 7.71E−02 1 14 WYM55 0.71 7.59E−02 1 15 WYM55 0.72 6.65E−02 1 2 WYM55 0.87 5.35E−03 8 1 WYM55 0.75 3.13E−02 8 14 WYM55 0.85 8.04E−03 8 13 WYM55 0.77 2.68E−02 8 11 WYM55 0.76 2.91E−02 8 10 WYM55 0.97 5.99E−05 8 2 WYM55 0.79 1.87E−02 8 5 WYM55 0.90 2.46E−03 8 7 WYM55 0.86 5.97E−03 8 8 WYM55 0.81 1.550−02 8 4 WYM55 0.72 2.97E−02 3 15 WYM56 0.73 9.99E−02 4 1 WYM56 0.79 3.59E−02 4 3 WYM56 0.76 4.89E−02 4 16 WYM56 0.87 1.15E−02 4 14 WYM56 0.72 6.82E−02 4 15 WYM56 0.74 5.58E−02 4 13 WYM56 0.88 9.81E−03 4 11 WYM56 0.73 6.16E−02 4 6 WYM56 0.79 3.63E−02 4 10 WYM56 0.80 3.26E−02 4 7 WYM56 0.75 5.30E−02 4 8 WYM56 0.81 2.64E−02 4 4 WYM56 0.79 3.53E−02 4 17 WYM56 0.79 3.57E−02 7 19 WYM56 0.72 1.84E−02 6 19 WYM56 0.71 2.14E−02 6 5 WYM56 0.80 5.41E−02 2 3 WYM56 0.73 9.81E−02 2 16 WYM56 0.72 1.09E−01 2 13 WYM56 0.84 3.42E−02 2 6 WYM56 0.89 1.65E−02 2 18 WYM56 0.88 2.21E−02 2 17 WYM57 0.77 2.55E−02 5 13 WYM57 0.81 4.08E−03 6 20 WYM57 0.79 6.14E−02 2 3 WYM57 0.79 6.07E−02 2 16 WYM57 0.82 4.61E−02 2 13 WYM57 0.80 5.34E−02 2 6 WYM57 0.93 6.49E−03 2 18 WYM57 0.90 1.47E−02 2 17 WYM58 0.76 2.88E−02 5 15 WYM58 0.86 5.85E−03 5 12 WYM58 0.70 7.99E−02 7 9 WYM58 0.75 5.00E−02 7 19 WYM58 0.93 7.01E−03 1 1 WYM58 0.71 2.27E−02 6 18 WYM58 0.79 6.31E−02 2 9 WYM58 0.70 1.18E−01 2 18 WYM58 0.87 2.59E−02 2 12 WYM59 0.81 1.52E−02 5 1 WYM59 0.75 3.04E−02 5 2 WYM60 0.95 1.22E−03 4 3 WYM60 0.95 1.13E−03 4 16 WYM60 0.82 2.29E−02 4 14 WYM60 0.85 1.50E−02 4 13 WYM60 0.89 8.05E−03 4 11 WYM60 0.91 4.97E−03 4 6 WYM60 0.72 6.73E−02 4 9 WYM60 0.88 8.90E−03 4 10 WYM60 0.92 3.77E−03 4 19 WYM60 0.95 9.43E−04 4 5 WYM60 0.93 2.75E−03 4 7 WYM60 0.92 3.01E−03 4 8 WYM60 0.79 3.65E−02 4 12 WYM60 0.92 3.07E−03 4 4 WYM60 0.94 1.61E−03 4 17 WYM60 0.71 7.22E−02 7 9 WYM60 0.71 7.67E−02 1 10 WYM60 0.73 6.07E−02 1 12 WYM61 0.79 3.33E−02 4 3 WYM61 0.90 6.35E−03 4 16 WYM61 0.73 6.34E−02 4 13 WYM61 0.90 6.38E−03 4 11 WYM61 0.71 7.45E−02 4 6 WYM61 0.91 4.50E−03 4 9 WYM61 0.94 1.48E−03 4 10 WYM61 0.80 3.21E−02 4 19 WYM61 0.80 3.09E−02 4 5 WYM61 0.89 6.54E−03 4 7 WYM61 0.96 7.57E−04 4 12 WYM61 0.89 7.56E−03 4 17 WYM61 0.70 7.75E−02 7 3 WYM61 0.70 7.91E−02 7 6 WYM61 0.73 6.01E−02 7 18 WYM61 0.70 7.80E−02 1 9 WYM61 0.80 3.01E−02 1 12 WYM61 0.80 1.61E−02 8 19 WYM61 0.85 7.85E−03 8 5 WYM61 0.73 2.63E−02 3 12 WYM62 0.81 1.48E−02 8 3 WYM62 0.86 6.19E−03 8 16 WYM62 0.78 2.24E−02 8 6 WYM62 0.78 2.20E−02 8 4 WYM62 0.80 1.82E−02 8 17 WYM63 0.79 3.62E−02 7 21 WYM63 0.73 6.12E−02 7 9 WYM63 0.78 3.98E−02 7 10 WYM63 0.75 5.34E−02 7 19 WYM63 0.70 7.92E−02 7 7 WYM63 0.87 1.04E−02 7 12 WYM63 0.71 7.30E−02 1 16 WYM63 0.72 6.58E−02 1 9 WYM63 0.93 2.32E−03 1 19 WYM63 0.92 3.36E−03 1 5 WYM63 0.76 4.79E−02 1 7 WYM63 0.72 6.85E−02 1 8 WYM63 0.72 6.77E−02 1 12 WYM63 0.92 3.66E−04 3 3 WYM63 0.91 6.53E−04 3 16 WYM63 0.94 2.01E−04 3 13 WYM63 0.87 2.57E−03 3 11 WYM63 0.85 3.74E−03 3 6 WYM63 0.73 2.69E−02 3 9 WYM63 0.88 1.54E−03 3 10 WYM63 0.80 9.36E−03 3 19 WYM63 0.75 2.09E−02 3 5 WYM63 0.91 6.58E−04 3 7 WYM63 0.89 1.51E−03 3 8 WYM63 0.82 6.92E−03 3 12 WYM63 0.90 8.54E−04 3 4 WYM63 0.92 3.57E−04 3 17 WYM63 0.83 4.19E−02 2 2 WYM64 0.85 3.25E−02 4 1 WYM64 0.80 5.63E−02 2 9 WYM64 0.70 1.05E−01 2 18 WYM65 0.72 6.93E−02 4 18 WYM66 0.78 3.72E−02 4 19 WYM66 0.75 5.05E−02 4 5 WYM66 0.73 6.35E−02 1 5 WYM67 0.90 2.40E−03 5 11 WYM67 0.80 1.66E−02 5 10 WYM67 0.75 8.67E−02 4 1 WYM67 0.89 7.62E−03 4 2 WYM67 0.73 9.89E−02 7 1 WYM67 0.87 2.40E−02 1 1 WYM67 0.80 2.92E−02 1 2 WYM67 0.75 3.23E−02 8 16 WYM67 0.82 4.36E−02 2 3 WYM67 0.73 9.92E−02 2 11 WYM67 0.78 6.51E−02 2 6 WYM67 0.72 1.08E−01 2 18 WYM67 0.73 9.64E−02 2 7 WYM67 0.76 8.23E−02 2 4 WYM67 0.84 3.77E−02 2 17 WYM69 0.71 4.86E−02 5 6 WYM69 0.72 6.59E−02 4 3 WYM69 0.79 3.50E−02 4 16 WYM69 0.71 7.33E−02 4 6 WYM69 0.86 1.37E−02 4 9 WYM69 0.93 2.72E−03 4 19 WYM69 0.81 2.77E−02 4 5 WYM69 0.75 5.03E−02 4 7 WYM69 0.74 5.86E−02 4 17 WYM69 0.91 1.12E−02 7 1 WYM69 0.87 9.95E−03 7 3 WYM69 0.87 1.09E−02 7 16 WYM69 0.92 3.64E−03 7 14 WYM69 0.79 3.38E−02 7 15 WYM69 0.84 1.73E−02 7 13 WYM69 0.84 1.69E−02 7 11 WYM69 0.86 1.33E−02 7 6 WYM69 0.74 5.91E−02 7 9 WYM69 0.84 1.80E−02 7 10 WYM69 0.80 3.03E−02 7 19 WYM69 0.85 1.63E−02 7 5 WYM69 0.89 8.01E−03 7 7 WYM69 0.89 7.70E−03 7 8 WYM69 0.77 4.41E−02 7 12 WYM69 0.87 1.05E−02 7 4 WYM69 0.84 1.73E−02 7 17 WYM69 0.72 6.91E−02 1 11 WYM69 0.81 2.57E−02 1 9 WYM69 0.78 3.77E−02 1 10 WYM69 0.76 4.90E−02 1 7 WYM69 0.87 9.98E−03 1 12 WYM69 0.72 1.89E−02 6 16 WYM69 0.74 2.28E−02 3 15 WYM69 0.76 1.78E−02 3 13 WYM69 0.81 7.98E−03 3 11 WYM69 0.85 3.77E−03 3 10 WYM69 0.76 1.84E−02 3 7 WYM69 0.83 5.48E−03 3 12 WYM69 0.92 9.31E−03 2 3 WYM69 0.96 1.84E−03 2 16 WYM69 0.96 1.89E−03 2 13 WYM69 0.92 8.68E−03 2 11 WYM69 0.98 4.20E−04 2 6 WYM69 0.90 1.52E−02 2 10 WYM69 0.87 2.60E−02 2 18 WYM69 0.83 4.32E−02 2 19 WYM69 0.95 4.23E−03 2 7 WYM69 0.95 3.79E−03 2 8 WYM69 0.96 2.84E−03 2 4 WYM69 0.91 1.23E−02 2 17 WYM98 0.86 5.98E−03 5 11 WYM98 0.77 2.44E−02 5 10 WYM98 0.71 5.07E−02 5 2 WYM98 0.73 3.98E−02 5 7 WYM98 0.81 5.31E−02 4 1 WYM98 0.82 2.26E−02 4 2 WYM98 0.78 6.79E−02 7 1 WYM98 0.86 2.77E−02 1 1 WYM98 0.73 6.50E−02 1 16 WYM98 0.73 6.32E−02 1 15 WYM98 0.71 7.44E−02 1 13 WYM98 0.82 2.25E−02 1 11 WYM98 0.87 1.02E−02 1 10 WYM98 0.84 1.76E−02 1 2 WYM98 0.79 3.55E−02 1 7 WYM98 0.87 1.02E−02 1 12 WYM98 0.71 7.46E−02 1 17 WYM98 0.74 3.45E−02 8 1 WYM98 0.74 3.49E−02 8 3 WYM98 0.75 3.15E−02 8 8 WYM98 0.73 4.09E−02 8 4 WYM98 0.70 5.22E−02 8 17 WYM98 0.73 2.53E−02 3 15 WYM98 0.71 1.12E−01 2 10 WYM98 0.82 4.54E−02 2 2 Table 14: Correlations (R) between the genes expression levels in var. ous tissues and the phenotypic performance. “Corr. ID”—correlation set ID according to the correlated parameters Table 11 above. “Exp. Set”—Expression set. “R” = Pearson correlation coefficient; “P” = p value.

Example 5 Production of Barley Transcriptome and High Throughput Correlation Analysis Using 44K Barley Oligonucleotide Micro-Array

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis comparing between plant phenotype and gene expression level, the present inventors utilized a Barley oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 47,500 Barley genes and transcripts. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression and yield or vigor related parameters, various plant characteristics of 25 different Barley accessions were analyzed in the field under normal growth conditions. Among them, 13 accessions encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Experimental Procedures

Analyzed Barley tissues—Five tissues at different developmental stages [meristem, flower, booting spike, stem, flag leaf], representing different plant characteristics, were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 15 below.

TABLE 15 Barley transcriptome expression sets Expression Set Set ID Yield barley booting spike 1 Yield barley flower 2 Yield barley meristem 3 Yield barley stem 4 Table 15: Provided are the barley transcriptome expression sets.

Barley yield components and vigor related parameters assessment—25 Barley accessions in 4 repetitive blocks (named A, B, C, and D), each containing 4 plants per plot were grown at net house. Plants were phenotyped on a daily basis following the standard descriptor of barley (Table 16, below). Harvest was conducted while 50% of the spikes were dry to avoid spontaneous release of the seeds. Plants were separated to the vegetative part and spikes, of them, 5 spikes were threshed (grains were separated from the glumes) for additional grain analysis such as size measurement, grain count per spike and grain yield per spike. All material was oven dried and the seeds were threshed manually from the spikes prior to measurement of the seed characteristics (weight and size) using scanning and image analysis. The image analysis system included a personal desktop computer (Intel P43.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program—ImageJ 1.37 (Java based image processing program, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and freely available on the internet [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/]. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

TABLE 16 Barley standard descriptors Trait Parameter Range Description Growth habit Scoring 1-9 Prostrate (1) or Erect (9) Hairiness of Scoring P (Presence)/A Absence (1) or Presence (2) basal leaves (Absence) Stem Scoring Green (1), Basal only or Half or more pigmentation (5) Days to Days Days from sowing to emergence of Flowering awns Plant height Centimeter (cm) Height from ground level to top of the longest spike excluding awns Spikes per Number Terminal Counting plant Spike length Centimeter (cm) Terminal Counting 5 spikes per plant Grains per Number Terminal Counting 5 spikes per plant spike Vegetative dry Gram Oven-dried for 48 hours at 70° C. weight Spikes dry Gram Oven-dried for 48 hours at 30° C. weight Table 16: Barley standard descriptors.

Grains per spike—At the end of the experiment (50% of the spikes were dry) all spikes from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The total number of grains from 5 spikes that were manually threshed was counted. The average grain per spike was calculated by dividing the total grain number by the number of spikes.

Grain average size (cm)—At the end of the experiment (50% of the spikes were dry) all spikes from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The total grains from 5 spikes that were manually threshed were scanned and images were analyzed using the digital imaging system. Grain scanning was done using Brother scanner (model DCP-135), at the 200 dpi resolution and analyzed with Image J software. The average grain size was calculated by dividing the total grain size by the total grain number.

Grain average weight (mgr)—At the end of the experiment (50% of the spikes were dry) all spikes from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The total grains from spikes that were manually threshed were counted and weight. The average weight was calculated by dividing the total weight by the total grain number.

Grain yield per spike (gr)—At the end of the experiment (50% of the spikes were dry) all spikes from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The total grains from 5 spikes that were manually threshed were weight. The grain yield was calculated by dividing the total weight by the spike number.

Spike length analysis—At the end of the experiment (50% of the spikes were dry) all spikes from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The five chosen spikes per plant were measured using measuring tape excluding the awns.

Spike number analysis—At the end of the experiment (50% of the spikes were dry) all spikes from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The spikes per plant were counted.

Growth habit scoring—At the growth stage 10 (booting), each of the plants was scored for its growth habit nature. The scale that was used was 1 for prostate nature till 9 for erect.

Hairiness of basal leaves—At the growth stage 5 (leaf sheath strongly erect; end of tillering), each of the plants was scored for its hairiness nature of the leaf before the last. The scale that was used was 1 for prostate nature till 9 for erect.

Plant height—At the harvest stage (50% of spikes were dry) each of the plants was measured for its height using measuring tape. Height was measured from ground level to top of the longest spike excluding awns.

Days to flowering—Each of the plants was monitored for flowering date. Days of flowering was calculated from sowing date till flowering date.

Stem pigmentation—At the growth stage 10 (booting), each of the plants was scored for its stem color. The scale that was used was 1 for green till 5 for full purple.

Vegetative dry weight and spike yield—At the end of the experiment (50% of the spikes were dry) all spikes and vegetative material from plots within blocks A-D were collected. The biomass and spikes weight of each plot was separated, measured and divided by the number of plants.

Dry weight=total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) after drying at 70° C. in oven for 48 hours; Spike yield per plant=total spike weight per plant (gr) after drying at 30° C. in oven for 48 hours.

Harvest Index (for barley)—The harvest index was calculated using Formula XI.

Harvest Index=Average spike dry weight per plant/(Average vegetative dry weight per plant+Average spike dry weight per plant)  Formula XI:

TABLE 17 Barley correlated parameters (vectors) Correlated parameter with Correlation ID Grain weight 1 Grains Size 2 Grains per spike 3 Growth habit 4 Hairiness of basal leaves 5 Plant height 6 Seed Yield of 5 Spikes 7 Spike length 8 Spikes per plant 9 Stem pigmentation 10 Vegetative dry weight 11 days to flowering 12 Table 17: Provided are the Barley correlated parameters.

Experimental Results

13 different Barley accessions were grown and characterized for 13 parameters as described above. The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software and values are summarized in Tables 18 and 19 below. Subsequent correlation analysis between the various transcriptome sets (Table 15) and the average parameters (Tables 18 and 19) was conducted. Follow, results were integrated to the database.

TABLE 18 Measured parameters of correlation IDs in Barley accessions Eco- type/ Treat- ment Line-1 Line-2 Line-3 Line-4 Line-5 Line-6 Line-7 1 35.05 28.06 28.76 17.87 41.22 29.73 34.99 2 0.27 0.23 0.24 0.17 0.29 0.28 0.28 3 20.23 17.98 17.27 17.73 14.47 16.78 14.07 4 2.60 2.00 1.92 3.17 4.33 2.69 3.50 5 1.53 1.33 1.69 1.08 1.42 1.69 1.19 6 134.27 130.50 138.77 114.58 127.75 129.38 121.63 7 3.56 2.54 2.58 1.57 3.03 2.52 2.62 8 12.04 10.93 11.83 9.90 11.68 11.53 11.22 9 48.85 48.27 37.42 61.92 33.27 41.69 40.63 10 1.13 2.50 1.69 1.75 2.33 . 2.31 2.19 11 78.87 66.14 68.49 53.39 68.30 74.17 58.33 12 62.40 64.08 65.15 58.92 63.00 70.54 60.88 Table 18. Provided are the values of each of the parameters measured in Barley accessions according to the correlation identifications presented in Table 17.

TABLE 19 Barley accessions, additional measured parameters Ecotype/ Treat- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- ment 8 9 10 11 12 13 1 20.58 37.13 25.22 27.50 29.56 19.58 2 0.19 0.27 0.22 0.22 0.27 0.18 3 21.54 13.40 12.12 12.10 15.28 17'.07 4 3.00 2.47 3.60 3.67 3.50 3.00 5 1.00 1.60 1.30 1.17 1.08 1.17 6 126.80 121.40 103.89 99.83 118.42 117.17 7 2.30 2.68 1.55 1.68 2.35 1.67 8 11.11 10.18 8.86 8.58 10.51 9.80 10 62.00 50.60 40.00 49.33 43.09 51.40 11 2.30 3.07 1.70 1.83 1.58 2.17 12 62.23 68.31 35.35 38.32 56.15 42.68 1 20.58 37.13 25.22 27.50 29.56 19.58 2 0.19 0.27 0.22 0.22 . 0.27 0.18 3 21.54 13.40 12.12 12.10 15.28 17.07 4 3.00 2.47 3.60 3.67 3.50 3.00 5 1.00 1.60 1.30 1.17 1.08 1.17 6 126.80 121.40 103.89 99.83 118.42 117.17 7 2.30 2.68 1.55 1.68 2.35 1.67 8 11.11 10.18 8.86 8.58 10.51 9.80 9 62.00 50.60 40.00 49.33 43.09 51.40 10 2.30 3.07 1.70 1.83 1.58 2.17 11 62.23 68.31 35.35 38.32 56.15 42.68 12 58.10 60.40 52.80 53.00 64.58 56.00 9 62.00 50.60 Table 19. Provided are the values of each of the parameters measured in Barley accessions according to the correlation identifications presented in Table 17.

TABLE 20 Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance of maintenance of performance under drought conditions across barley varieties Gene P Exp. Corr. Gene P Exp. Corr. Set Name R value set Set ID Name R value set ID LYM320 0.86 5.69E-03 1 9 LYM332 0.78 3.71E-02 2 9 LYM90 0.77 1.63E-02 1 2 LYM90 0.81 7.77E-03 1 1 LYM90 0.87 2.38E-03 1 7 LYM90 0.78 1.33E-02 1 11 WYM1 0.79 4.05E-03 1 4 WYM11 0.75 1.88E-02 3 2 WYM11 0.75 2.07E-02 3 1 WYM11 0.76 1.74E-02 3 7 WYM12 0.71 3. 38E-02 1 6 WYM12 0.72 2.81E-02 1 12 WYM12 0.72 4.44E-02 2 2 WYM12 0.72 4.28E-02 2 1 WYM12 0.76 1.12E-02 2 5 WYM12 0.90 1.00E-03 3 2 WYM12 0.87 2.11E-03 3 1 WYM12 0.72 1.24E-02 3 6 WYM12 0.74 3.73E-02 3 9 WYM12 0.77 5.72E-03 3 7 WYM12 0.75 8.25E-03 3 11 WYM12 0.72 3.00E-02 3 12 WYM12 0.89 2.48E-04 3 5 WYM13 0.70 5.28E-02 2 1 WYM13 0.71 5.02E-02 2 6 WYM13 0.76 2 .91E-02 2 8 WYM13 0.80 1.70E-02 2 7 WYM13 0.81 1.38E-02 2 11 WYM13 0.71 4.74E-02 2 12 WYM16 0.75 1.16E-02 2 9 WYM16 0.84 9.12E-03 2 3 WYM17 0.79 1.22E-02 3 7 WYM18 0.72 1.28E-02 1 12 WYM19 0.80 1.03E-02 1 2 WYM19 0.77 1.50E-02 1 1 WYM19 0.81 7.84E-03 1 5 WYM19 0.80 1.64E-02 2 4 WYM2 0.74 9.86E-03 3 6 WYM2 0.75 1.95E-02 3 8 WYM2 0.86 2.88E-03 3 7 WYM2 0.79 1.11E-02 3 11 WYM20 0.75 1.98E-02 3 2 WYM20 0.75 1.96E-02 3 7 WYM3 0.80 9.56E-03 1 2 WYM3 0.82 6.45E-03 1 1 WYM3 0.71 3.33E-02 1 7 WYM4 0.79 1.14E-02 1 2 WYM4 0.74 2.40E-02 1 1 WYM4 0.80 9.37E-03 1 7 WYM7 0.75 3.38E-02 2 10 WYM7 0.80 1.03E -02 3 3 WYM9 0.78 1.36E-02 3 2 WYM9 0.81 7.50E -03 3 1 WYM9 0.80 9.80E-03 3 7 Table 20. Correlations (R) between the genes expression levels in various tissues and the phenotypic performance. “Corr. ID”- correlation set ID according to the correlated parameters Table 17 above. “Exp. Set”Expression set. “R” = Pearson correlation coefficient; “P” = p value.

Example 6 Production of Barley Transcriptome and High Throughput Correlation Analysis Using 60K Barley Oligonucleotide Micro-Array

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis comparing between plant phenotype and gene expression level, the present inventors utilized a Barley oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 60K Barley genes and transcripts. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression and yield or vigor related parameters, various plant characteristics of 15 different Barley accessions were analyzed. Among them, 10 accessions encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Correlation of Barley Varieties Grown Under Regular and Drought Growth Conditions

Experimental procedures Analyzed Barley tissues—Four tissues [leaf, meristem, spike and root tip] at two developmental stages, representing different plant characteristics, were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 21 below.

TABLE 21 Barley transcriptome expression sets Expression Set Set ID booting spike drought 1 leaf drought reproductive 2 leaf drought vegetative 3 meristems drought vegetative 4 root tip drought vegetative 5 root tip drought-recovery vegetative 6 Table 21: Provided are the barley transcriptome expression sets.

Barley yield components and vigor related parameters assessment—15 Barley accessions in 5 repetitive blocks, each containing 5 plants per pot were grown at net house. Two different treatments were applied: plants were regularly fertilized and watered during plant growth until harvesting (as recommended for commercial growth) or under drought stress. Plants were phenotyped on a daily basis following the standard descriptor of barley [Table 22 (below). Harvest was conducted while all the spikes were dry. All material was oven dried and the seeds were threshed manually from the spikes prior to measurement of the seed characteristics (weight and size) using scanning and image analysis. The image analysis system included a personal desktop computer (Intel P43.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program—ImageJ 1.37 (Java based image processing program, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and freely available on the internet [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/]. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Grains number—The total number of grains from all spikes that were manually threshed was counted. No of grains per plot were counted

Grain weight (gr.)—At the end of the experiment all spikes of the pots were collected. The total grains from all spikes that were manually threshed were weight. The grain yield was calculated by per plot.

Spike length and width analysis—At the end of the experiment the length and width of five chosen spikes per plant were measured using measuring tape excluding the awns.

Spike number analysis—The spikes per plant were counted.

Plant height—Each of the plants was measured for its height using measuring tape. Height was measured from ground level to top of the longest spike excluding awns at two time points at the Vegetative growth (30 days after sowing) and at harvest.

Heading date—Each of the plants was monitored for flowering date. Heading date was calculated from sowing date till 50% of the spikes emerged.

Spike weight—The biomass and spikes weight of each plot was separated, measured and divided by the number of plants.

Dry weight=total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) after drying at 70° C. in oven for 48 hours at two time points at the Vegetative growth (30 days after sowing) and at harvest.

Root dry weight=total weight of the root portion underground after drying at 70° C. in oven for 48 hours at harvest.

Root/Shoot Ratio—The Root/Shoot Ratio was calculated using Formula XII.

Root/Shoot Ratio=total weight of the root at harvest/total weight of the vegetative portion above ground at harvest.  Formula XII:

Total No of tillers—all tillers were counted per plot at two time points at the Vegetative growth (30 days after sowing) and at harvest

SPAD—Chlorophyll content was determined using a Minolta SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter and measurement was performed at time of flowering. SPAD meter readings were done on young fully developed leaf. Three measurements per leaf were taken per plot.

Root FW (gr.), root length (cm) and No. of lateral roots—3 plants per plot were selected for measurement of root weight, root length and for counting the number of lateral roots formed.

Shoot FW—weight of 3 plants per plots were recorded at different timepoints.

Relative water content—Fresh weight (FW) of three leaves from three plants each from different seed ID is immediately recorded; then leaves are soaked for 8 hours in distilled water at room temperature in the dark, and the turgid weight (TW) was recorded. Total dry weight (DW) was recorded after drying the leaves at 60° C. to a constant weight. Relative water content (RWC) was calculated according to the following Formula I (RWC=[(FW−DW)/(TW−DW)]×100) as described above.

Harvest Index (for barley)—The harvest index was calculated using Formula XI above [Average spike dry weight per plant/(Average vegetative dry weight per plant+Average spike dry weight per plant)].

Growth rate: the growth rate (GR) of Plant Height (Formula V above), SPAD (Formula XIII below) and number of tillers (Formula XIV below) were calculated with the indicated Formulas.

Growth rate of SPAD=Regression coefficient of SPAD measurements along time course.  Formula XIII:

Growth rate of Number of tillers=Regression coefficient of Number of tillers along time course.  Formula XIV:

TABLE 22 Barley correlated parameters (vectors) Correlated parameter with Correlation ID Chlorophyll levels 1 Dry weight harvest 2 Dry weight vegetative growth 3 Fresh weight 4 Grain number 5 Grain weight 6 Harvest index 7 Heading date 8 Height growth rate 9 Number of tillers growth rate 10 Plant height 11 RBiH/BiH 12 Relative water content 13 Root dry weight 14 Root fresh weight 15 Root length 16 SPAD growth rate 17 Spike length 18 Spike number 19 Spike weight per plant 20 Spike width 21 Tillers number 22 lateral root number 23 Table 22: provided are the Barley correlated parameters.

Experimental Results

Fifteen different Barley accessions were grown and characterized for different parameters as described above. The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software and values are summarized in Tables 23-24 below. Subsequent correlation analysis between the various transcriptome sets (Table 21) and the average parameters (Tables 23-24) was conducted. Follow, results were integrated to the database.

TABLE 23 Measured parameters of correlation IDs in Barley accessions Ecotype/ Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Treatment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 41.33 33.57 36.57 40.50 45.07 39.73 38.33 36.17 2 6.15 5.05 3.20 3.28 4.76 3.55 4.52 3.38 3 0.21 0.21 0.17 4 1.90 1.52 1.17 1.95 1.90 1.22 1.75 1.58 5 170.00 267.50 111.00 205.33 153.60 252.50 288.40 274.50 6 5.55 9.80 3.55 7.20 5.28 7.75 9.92 10.25 7 0.47 0.66 0.53 0.69 0.53 0.69 0.69 0.75 8 75.00 71.00 65.00 66.75 90.00 90.00 9 0.27 0.86 0.73 0.88 0.40 0.94 0.70 0.71 10 0.07 0.10 0.06 0.07 0.16 0.06 0.10 0.05 11 46.00 52.80 35.00 38.00 45.20 48.00 37.67 41.20 11 46.00 52.80 35.00 38.00 45.20 48.00 37.67 41.20 12 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.03 0.02 0.01 0.01 13 80.60 53.40 55.87 43.21 69.78 45.49 76.51 14 77.52 60.19 27.13 18.62 117.42 70.72 37.34 25.56 15 2.07 1.48 1.12 1.87 1.67 1.68 1.62 0.85 16 21.67 20.33 22.00 24.00 20.67 18.33 21.00 20.33 17 0.09 −0.12 0.00 0.01 0.04 -0.07 0.01 0.00 18 16.70 16.85 13.27 13.55 14.19 15.64 15.66 17.49 19 4.20 4.36 7.60 8.44 4.92 3.43 6.90 5.80 20 17.72 24.24 18.20 18.00 19.50 15.00 23.40 28.16 21 8.64 9.07 7.82 7.32 8.74 7.62 6.98 8.05 22 11.68 9.04 10.92 10.16 10.32 8.78 13.00 7.44 22 11.68 9.04 10.92 10.16 10.32 8.78 13.00 7.44 23 8.33 8.67 7.33 7.67 6.67 6.67 7.67 6.67 Table 23 Provided are the values of each of the parameters measured in Barley accessions according to the correlation identifications presented in Table 22 above.

TABLE 24 Measured parameters of correlation IDs in additional Barley accessions Eco- type/ Treat- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- ment 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 1 42.13 31.77 33.47 42.37 42.27 36.77 40.63 2 5.67 3.31 2.65 5.12 6.86 3.11 3.74 3 0.25 0.13 0.19 0.22 4 1.88 1.73 1.00 0.90 0.90 1.43 0.83 5 348.50 358.00 521.39 71.50 160.13 376.67 105.00 6 8.50 14.03 17.52 2.05 5.38 11.00 2.56 7 0.60 0.81 0.87 0.29 0.44 0.78 0.41 8 90.00 90.00 81.60 90.00 9 0.77 0.80 0.92 0.39 0.88 −0.13 0.20 10 0.10 0.06 0.06 0.18 0.15 0.02 0.44 11 40.80 49.86 43.00 47.40 64.80 52.60 32.00 11 40.80 49.86 43.00 47.40 64.80 52.60 32.00 12 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.03 13 87.41 58.32 80.58 73.09 14 66.18 22.13 41.12 116.95 84.10 37.46 98.86 15 1.45 1.38 0.82 0.58 0.63 1.07 0.70 16 21.67 19.67 16.67 17.00 15.17 27.00 15.00 17 −0.06 0.04 0.05 0.00 −0.07 0.03 −0.06 18 16.00 18.31 17.42 14.23 14.81 16.54 12.72 19 8.55 9.67 5.42 3.05 4.07 3.72 3.21 20 21.96 33.03 34.80 11.73 18.78 21.00 9.88 21 6.06 6.73 9.55 7.84 7.81 8.35 5.47 22 13.92 11.00 6.78 8.45 9.15 5.12 16.13 22 13.92 11.00 6.78 8.45 9.15 5.12 16.13 23 6.00 8.67 7.67 6.33 7.00 7.00 6.67 Table 24: Provided are the values of each of the parameters measured in Barley accessions according to the correlation identifications presented in Table 22 above.

TABLE 25 Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance of maintenance of performance under drought conditions across barley varieties Corr. Corr. Gene Exp. Set Gene Exp. Set Name R P value set ID Name R P value set ID LYM320 0.76 8.01E-02 1 10 LYM320 0.75 3.09E-02 3 10 LYM320 0.82 1.18E-02 3 11 LYM320 0.81 2.60E-02 2 5 LYM320 0.82 2.38E-02 2 6 LYM320 0.81 8.20E-03 4 10 LYM320 0.71 3.12E-02 4 11 LYM332 0.92 8.49E-03 1 11 LYM332 0.77 7.51E-02 1 20 LYM332 0.79 1.19E-02 6 7 LYM332 0.83 5.18E-03 6 5 LYM332 0.84 4.14E-03 6 6 LYM332 0.74 2.18E-02 6 20 LYM332 0.82 1.29E-02 5 10 LYM332 0.74 3.66E-02 5 2 LYM332 0.83 6.05E-03 4 19 LYM90 0.74 3.50E-02 3 19 LYM90 0.74 5.81E-02 2 22 LYM90 0.85 7.72E-03 5 19 LYM90 0.73 3.80E-02 5 20 LYM91 0.79 6.25E-02 1 16 LYM91 0.95 3.06E-03 1 1 LYM91 0.75 1.96E-02 6 19 WYM1 0.71 4.85E-02 3 21 WYM1 0.71 4.77E-02 3 11 WYM1 0.76 3.03E-02 3 14 WYM1 0.85 1.58E-02 2 16 WYMI 0.73 6.27E-02 2 1 WYM1 0.77 2.46E-02 5 5 WYM1 0.72 4.54E-02 5 9 WYM1 0.88 3.70E-03 5 12 WYM1 0.75 8.64E-02 5 8 WYM11 0.75 8.40E-02 1 21 WYM11 0.81 1.45E-02 3 19 WYM11 0.78 2.10E-02 5 19 WYM11 0.72 4.28E-02 5 17 WYM12 0.73 9.61E-02 1 10 WYM12 0.74 8.96E-02 1 22 WYM12 0.82 4.55E-02 1 16 WYM12 0.95 4.35E-03 1 12 WYM12 0.97 1.67E-03 1 2 WYM12 0.99 6.17E-05 1 14 WYM12 0.75 3.36E-02 3 21 WYM12 0.87 1.13E-02 6 8 WYM12 0.83 1.97E-02 2 5 WYM12 0.89 7.39E-03 2 12 WYM12 0.72 4.60E-02 5 21 WYM12 0.76 2.86E-02 5 12 WYM12 0.70 7.98E-02 4 8 WYM13 0.86 2.80E-02 1 18 WYM13 0.86 2.91E-02 1 20 WYM13 0.70 7.76E-02 2 18 WYM13 0.73 3.87E-02 5 12 WYM15 0.73 1.02E-01 1 16 WYM15 0.92 1.14E-03 3 19 WYM15 0.73 4.03E-02 3 20 WYM15 0.90 8.49E-04 4 19 WYM16 0.83 1.07E-02 3 19 WYM16 0.72 4.39E-02 3 22 WYM16 0.71 7.67E-02 2 5 WYM16 0.75 5.45E-02 2 6 WYM16 0.72 4.50E-02 5 19 WYM16 0.83 1.11E-02 5 17 WYM16 0.89 1.43E-03 4 19 WYM17 0.72 1.09E-01 1 20 WYM17 0.70 1.18E-01 5 13 WYM17 0.71 4.75E-02 5 20 WYM17 0.76 4.53E-02 4 13 WYM17 0.83 5.94E-03 4 14 WYM17 0.73 6.26E-02 4 8 WYM18 0.98 6.88E-04 1 16 WYM18 0.71 1.16E-01 1 1 WYM18 0.85 7.62E-03 3 12 WYM18 0.79 1.88E-02 3 14 WYM18 0.83 2.12E-02 2 16 WYM18 0.72 2.80E-02 4 12 WYM19 0.72 6.78E-02 3 8 WYM19 0.81 2.75E-02 6 13 WYM2 0.82 4.80E-02 1 21 WYM20 0.79 1.89E-02 3 21 WYM20 0.72 7.04E-02 2 16 WYM3 0.75 5.12E-02 6 13 WYM4 0.74 9.36E-02 1 23 WYM4 0.87 2.49E-02 1 17 WYM4 0.71 7.28E-02 2 16 WYM4 0.74 2.13E-02 4 16 WYM4 0.85 3.87E-03 4 15 WYM7 0.74 9.53E-02 1 23 WYM7 0.70 1.19E-01 1 17 WYM7 0.74 3.72E-02 3 15 WYM8 0.74 9.05E-02 1 16 WYM8 0.77 2.69E-02 3 2 WYM8 0.73 4.12E-02 3 14 WYM9 0.71 7.10E-02 3 13 WYM9 0.78 3.85E-02 2 7 WYM9 0.71 7.63E-02 2 5 WYM9 0.83 1.98E-02 2 6 WYM9 0.79 3.42E-02 2 11 WYM9 0.71 7.41E-02 2 17 WYM9 0.86 1.27E-02 2 20 Table 25: Correlations (R) between the genes expression levels in various tissues and the phenotypic performance. “Corr. ID”- correlation set ID according to the correlated parameters Table 22 above. “Exp. Set”Expression set. “R” -= Pearson correlation coefficient; “P” = p value.

Example 7 Production of Maize Transcriptome and High Throughput Correlation Analysis with Yield Related Parameters when Grown Under Normal Using 60K Maize Oligonucleotide Micro-Arrays

Correlation of Maize hybrids and its parents grown under normal conditions -50 maize hybrids and their 14 parental lines were grown in 5 repetitive plots, in field. Maize seeds were planted and plants were grown in the field using commercial fertilization and irrigation protocols. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression with yield components or vigor related parameters, 50 maize hybrids and their 14 maize parents were analyzed and were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Analyzed Maize tissues—All total of 64 selected maize lines were sampled. Plant tissues [leaves, stem, stem elongating internodes, female meristem] were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 26 below.

TABLE 26 Maize transcriptome expression sets Expression Set Set ID heterosis flower female meristem: normal: 1 heterosis leaf: normal: 2 heterosis stem: normal: 3 heterosis stem elongating internodes: normal: 4 Table 26: Provided are the maize transcriptome expression sets

The following parameters were collected either by sampling 6 plants per plot or by measuring the parameter across all the plants within the plot.

Grain weight per plant (Kg.)—At the end of the experiment all ears from plots were collected. 6 ears were separately threshed and grains were weighted, all additional ears were threshed together and weighted as well. The average grain weight per ear was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by number of total ears per plot (based on plot). In case of 6 ears, the total grains weight of 6 ears was divided by 6.

Ear weight per plant (gr.)—At the end of the experiment (when ears were harvested) total and 6 selected ears per plots within blocks were collected separately. The plants with (total and 6) were weighted (gr.) separately and the average ear per plant was calculated.

Plant height and Ear height—Plants were characterized for height at harvesting. In each measure, 6 plants were measured for their height using a measuring tape. Height was measured from ground level to top of the plant below the tassel. Ear height was measured from the ground level to the place were the main ear is located.

Average Dry weight—At the end of the experiment (when Inflorescence were dry) all vegetative material from plots were collected.

Cob width [cm]—The width of the cob without grains was measured using a caliper.

Total dry matter=total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (including ears, excluding roots).

Filled/Whole Ear—was calculated as the length of the ear with grains out of the total ear.

Ear row num—The number of rows in each ear was counted.

Stalk width [cm]—The diameter of the stalk was measured in the internode located below the main ear. Measurement was performed in 6 plants per each plot.

Leaf area index [LAI]=total leaf area of all plants in a plot. Measurement was performed using a Leaf area-meter.

1000 grain weight—At the end of the experiment all seeds from all plots were collected and weighed and the weight of 1000 was calculated.

Plant height growth: the growth rate (GR) of Plant Height was calculated using Formula V (described above).

Leaf growth: the growth rate (GR) of leaf number was calculated using Formula VI (described above).

Harvest Index—The harvest index was calculated using Formula X above [Average grain dry weight per Ear/(Average vegetative dry weight per Ear+Average Ear dry weight)].

Heading date—Each of the plants was monitored for flowering date. Heading date was calculated from sowing date till 50% of the male flowering.

Number days to Silk emergence—Each of the plots was monitored for Silk emergence date. Number days to Silk emergence was calculated from sowing date till 50% of the spikes emerged.

Nodes number—the number of nodes was calculated from the whole plant.

The following parameters were collected using digital imaging system:

Grain Area (cm²)—At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the ear. A sample of ˜200 grains were weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The grain area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Grain Length and Grain width (mm)—At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the ear. A sample of -200 grains were weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain lengths/or width (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Grain Perimeter (cm)—At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the ear. A sample of -200 grains were weight, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain perimeter was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

Ear Area (cm²)—At the end of the growing period 6 ears were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The Ear area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of Ears.

Ear Filled Grain Area—At the end of the growing period 6 ears were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The Ear filled grain area was the ear with grains out of the total ear and was measured from those images and was divided by the number of Ears.

Ear Length, width and perimeter (cm)—At the end of the growing period 6 ears were, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The Ear length, width and perimeter were measured from those images and was divided by the number of ears.

The image processing system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P43.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program—ImageJ 1.37, Java based image processing software, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is freely available on the internet at Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/. Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888×2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, image processing output data for seed area and seed length was saved to text files and analyzed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

TABLE 27 Maize correlated parameters (vectors) Correlated parameter with Correlation ID 1000 grains weight 1 Average plant DW 2 Cob width 3 Ear Area 4 Ear Filled Grain Area 5 Ear Perimeter 6 Ear Width 7 Ear height 8 Ear length 9 Ear row num 10 Ears weight per plant (SP) 11 Filled/Whole Ear 12 Grain Perimeter 13 Grain area 14 Grain length 15 Grain width 16 Grains weight per plant (SP) 17 Harvest index 18 LAI 19 Leaf growth 20 Nodes number 21 Num days to Heading (field) 22 Num days to Silk emergence (field) 23 Plant height 24 Plant height growth 25 Stalk width 26 Total dry matter (SP) 27 Table 27: Provided are the maize correlated parameters.

Tables 28-35 provide the measured parameters.

TABLE 28 Measured parameters in Maize accessions under normal conditions Ecotype/ Treatment Line-1 Line-2 Line-3 Line-4 Line-5 Line-6 Line-7 Line-8 1 190.51 257.18 258.98 258.68 247.49 318.04 236.54 250.32 2 0.04 0.09 0.11 0.10 0.11 0.10 0.09 0.10 3 19.52 23.92 24.42 23.83 24.27 22.32 24.14 22.45 4 33.83 61.12 73.65 58.86 63.71 85.51 81.02 63.51 5 32.07 57.95 70.32 55.76 59.91 83.74 77.89 60.15 6 30.90 43.75 49.35 42.31 44.59 54.27 55.12 44.79 7 3.63 4.64 4.73 4.80 4.74 5.06 4.82 4.68 8 53.17 94.30 116.40 95.20 108.23 99.50 85.33 119.53 9 11.79 16.89 19.64 15.89 17.46 20.96 21.01 17.78 10 11.56 13.33 14.87 13.50 14.40 12.67 14.07 14.47 11 0.05 0.14 0.16 0.13 0.14 0.17 0.15 0.14 12 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.95 0.94 0.98 0.96 0.94 13 2.62 3.20 3.14 3.19 3.12 3.35 3.10 3.10 14 0.47 0.68 0.65 0.68 0.65 0.75 0.62 0.64 15 0.82 1.05 1.06 1.05 1.05 1.11 1.02 1.06 16 0.72 0.82 0.78 0.82 0.79 0.86 0.77 0.76 17 0.05 0.09 0.11 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.10 0.10 18 46.99 45.42 47.01 42.40 44.89 52.35 50.79 46.04 19 2875.33 5230.00 5543.00 5524. 83 5515.33 5863.50 5537.17 6546.17 20 0.20 0.26 0.28 0.29 0.26 0.27 0.25 0.33 21 3.44 4.90 5.60 4.47 5.57 4.83 4.13 5.53 22 46.00 42.00 42.00 41.67 45.00 45.00 43.00 47.60 23 46.00 45.00 45.00 43.50 45.00 45.00 46.00 45.00 24 152.22 234.18 254.80 238.93 241.08 238.43 225.10 256.28 25 4.53 7.38 7.75 8.07 7.29 7.67 6.94 8.80 26 19.12 23.25 23.22 22.86 24.09 24.23 23.71 22.75 27 0.52 1.21 1.50 1.24 1.35 1.44 1.29 1.29 Table 28: Correlation IDs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...etc. refer to those described in Table 27 above [Maize correlated parameters (vectors)].

TABLE 29 Measured parameters in Maize accessions under normal conditions Ecotype/ Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Treatment 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 280.76 169.91 255.84 213.97 264.06 253.92 284.00 221.00 2 0.09 0.06 0.10 0.13 0.11 0.12 0.11 0.11 3 26.97 21.72 24.13 22.20 24.56 23.69 23.81 23.21 4 57.70 27.36 63.38 53.07 78.65 76.72 76.57 63.37 5 52.92 26.33 57.48 41.25 74.89 75.09 69.95 57.74 6 41.33 29.58 45.78 46.42 53.45 50.69 52.89 46.42 7 4.86 3.70 4.54 3.87 4.89 4.80 4.70 4.44 8 101.93 74.67 80.80 120.07 102.46 110.30 100.83 124.33 9 15.47 9.14 18.01 17.41 20.52 19.72 20.76 18.45 10 14.63 13.13 14.17 12.96 13.88 14.37 13.41 15.03 11 0.13 0.05 0.12 0.08 0.15 0.15 0.13 0.12 12 0.90 0.94 0.90 0.74 0.95 0.98 0.89 0.89 13 3.29 2.65 3.13 2.77 3.19 3.13 3.21 3.03 14 0.71 0.46 0.65 0.52 0.68 0.64 0.69 0.60 15 1.13 0.84 1.02 0.93 1.07 1.05 1.04 1.01 16 0.80 0.70 0.81 0.70 0.80 0.77 0.84 0.75 17 0.09 0.04 0.07 0.05 0.11 0.10 0.09 0.08 18 43.17 37.90 42.30 27.73 45.90 45.17 43.27 36.54 19 5916.33 3426.67 5848.33 4930.83 6303.17 5042.33 5144.17 6057.33 20 0.27 0.25 0.25 0.24 0.26 0.26 0.25 0.23 21 5.10 4.27 4.17 6.50 5.08 5.13 4.40 5.30 22 41.67 41.60 42.00 45.50 45.00 42.00 45.00 45.33 23 47.20 53.00 45.00 45.00 45.25 45.50 48.00 46.00 24 225.08 191.73 231.07 237.17 242.83 246.03 254.93 260.87 25 7.07 5.71 6.58 6.18 7.03 7.15 7.85 7.70 26 22.16 19.09 23.23 23.05 22.29 23.54 22.34 22.94 27 1.16 0.61 1.19 1.17 1.42 1.49 1.34 1.27 Table 29: Correlat. on IDs: 1 2, 3, 4, 5 ...etc. refer to those described in Table 27 above [Maize correlated parameters (vectors)].

TABLE 30 Measured parameters in Maize accessions under normal conditions Ecotype/ Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Treatment 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 205.45 227.12 264.61 219.47 245.06 224.95 275.42 262.93 2 0.13 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.11 0.08 0.09 0.10 3 22.67 22.24 26.06 24.58 24.83 23.39 24.22 24.32 4 59.16 66.15 73.40 69.68 67.24 43.51 55.21 55.49 5 56.29 62.09 68.49 67.66 61.63 39.49 53.28 53.33 6 43.78 51.44 50.92 48.58 46.61 35.27 40.79 45.11 7 4.40 4.31 4.74 4.59 4.64 4.25 4.72 4.67 8 126.97 123.37 90.00 131.89 135.97 97.00 105.67 102.33 9 17.31 19.43 20.02 19.01 18.32 13.20 14.88 15.25 10 14.61 13.91 15.30 16.13 15.61 14.26 15.00 14.50 11 0.12 0.12 0.14 0.14 0.15 0.08 0.15 0.13 12 0.95 0.90 0.93 0.97 0.90 0.90 0.96 0.96 13 2.94 3.04 3.25 2.95 3.03 2.91 3.20 3.29 14 0.57 0.61 0.68 0.57 0.60 0.56 0.67 0.69 15 1.01 1.03 1.09 1.02 1.04 0.95 1.08 1.12 16 0.71 0.75 0.79 0.70 0.72 0.75 0.79 0.79 17 0.08 0.10 0.11 0.11 6.09 0.05 0.09 0.10 18 36.76 41.35 42.83 43.89 43.43 37.89 48.12 46.48 19 6247.50 5918.00 5621.75 6480.33 6408.17 4056.67 5556.50 4626.50 20 0.31 0.29 0.23 0.33 0.26 0.23 0.29 0.29 21 6.53 5.71 4.25 6.05 6.27 5.23 4.83 5.17 22 40.75 41.00 38.33 40.00 42.00 40.80 44.33 42.00 23 45.00 48.00 48.00 41.33 41.00 41.33 41.40 45.25 24 260.30 255.79 233.72 264.12 266.64 204.50 249.67 237.17 25 8.04 8.11 6.48 8.19 7.38 5.96 7.51 7.41 26 24.58 23.27 24.68 25.08 23.13 20.79 21.13 20.63 27 1.37 1.29 1.40 1.47 1.41 0.92 1.28 1.22 Table 30. Correlation IDs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...etc. refer to those described in Table 27 above [Maize correlated parameters (vectors)].

TABLE 31 Measured parameters in Maize accessions under normal conditions Ecotype/ Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Treatment 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 1 245.85 262.71 239.16 255.66 303.25 214.93 228.10 254.51 2 0.10 0.13 0.11 0.09 0.14 0.10 0.14 0.11 3 23.69 24.03 24.05 23.29 24.80 24.66 25.13 26.11 4 68.01 60.04 73.03 58.82 94.18 69.44 73.03 65.02 5 62.50 56.82 69.42 56.12 90.14 64.64 70.46 60.11 6 46.30 42.55 46.67 41.90 54.03 49.72 46.90 42.72 7 4.91 4.71 5.24 4.66 5.64 4.41 4.98 5.04 8 95.69 128.67 119.69 91.05 108.33 88.78 129.83 121.67 9 17.65 16.24 17.91 16.32 20.96 20.05 18.49 16.63 10 14.88 15.67 16.23 13.63 14.67 15.33 17.17 15.47 11 0.12 0.16 0.15 0.13 0.21 0.12 0.16 0.14 12 0.91 0.94 0.95 0.95 0.96 0.93 0.96 0.92 13 3.19 3.22 3.14 3.19 3.40 2.96 3.01 3.21 14 0.66 0.66 0.63 0.68 0.76 0.56 0.58 0.67 15 1.05 1.11 1.09 1.06 1.17 0.97 1.03 1.08 16 0.80 0.76 0.74 0.81 0.82 0.73 0.72 0.79 17 0.09 0.11 0.10 0.09 0.12 0.08 0.11 0.09 18 42.18 44.27 44.69 47.94 46.14 40.60 38.88 41.87 19 5196.50 5537.50 6175.17 5007.17 7017.00 4816.75 6441.83 5872.83 20 0.26 0.28 0.29 0.29 0.28 0.18 0.29 0.26 21 4.28 5.67 5.87 4.63 5.33 4.89 5.67 5.83 22 47.00 41.75 43.50 45.50 46.00 45.00 45.00 48.50 23 41.33 45.00 48.00 45.00 45.00 48.50 45.00 42.00 24 232.25 269.17 251.29 223.38 250.00 219.17 267.83 238.70 25 7.85 8.57 7.53 7.65 7.95 5.08 8.13 7.29 26 21.52 22.55 22.96 21.70 24.87 24.05 24.16 22.00 27 1.24 1.57 1.44 1.19 1.86 1.13 1.61 1.37 Table 31: Correlation IDs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...etc. refer to those described in Table 27 above [Maize correlated parameters (vectors)].

TABLE 32 Measured parameters in Maize accessions under normal conditions Ecotype/ Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Treatment 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 1 213. 20 284.32 233.47 236.14 190.80 221.89 189.77 209.58 2 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.11 0.12 0.12 0.12 0.10 3 25.25 25.19 24.53 26.04 26.57 25.71 23.73 23.75 4 66.12 85.22 67.49 66.13 63.71 84.61 61.91 57.69 5 62.19 81.10 65.83 61.12 60.01 81.22 58.40 55.27 6 46.09 55.31 46.40 47.32 44.34 52.18 43.42 42.21 7 4.70 5.26 4.77 4.94 4.61 5.10 4.59 4.51 8 102.93 96.50 93.92 106.39 108.00 111.50 132.33 100.67 9 18.01 20.42 17.67 17.60 17.31 20.82 17.27 16.55 10 15.53 14.00 14.67 16.67 17.17 16.67 16.57 13.89 11 0.14 0.17 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.18 0.12 0.12 12 0.94 0.95 0.97 0.92 0.94 0.96 0.94 0.96 13 2.95 3.21 3.11 3.04 2.81 3.11 2.81 2.93 14 0.57 0.69 0.63 0.61 0.51 0.62 0.51 0.57 15 1.02 1.09 1.04 1.05 0.98 1.08 0.97 0.98 16 0.71 0.81 0.77 0.73 0.66 0.73 0.66 0.74 17 0.08 0.11 0.10 0.10 0.08 0.12 0.08 0.09 18 40.79 47.36 42.93 40.96 38.94 47.25 38.09 43.84 19 5230.50 6099.50 4960.17 5974.33 6490.25 7194.50 6731.00 5271.83 20 0.26 0.30 0.28 0.15 0.30 0.25 0.30 0.29 21 6.07 5.17 4.83 5.17 6.08 5.25 6.23 5.22 22 48.00 49.00 46.00 48.20 48.00 45.33 55.00 45.20 23 45.50 48.00 45.50 48.33 47.00 47.00 48.00 45.33 24 217.45 232.17 240.46 247.39 238.08 265.42 263.90 237.72 25 6.13 7.90 7.02 6.13 7.22 7.27 7.74 7.34 26 24.83 24.59 24.51 24.60 25.22 25.44 23.67 22.36 27 1.33 1.51 1.37 1.34 1.39 1.64 1.29 1.21 Table 32. Correlation IDs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...etc. refer to those described in Table 27 above [Maize correlated parameters (vectors)].

TABLE 33 Measured parameters in Maize accessions under normal conditions Ecotype/ Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Treatment 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 1 163.36 162.24 204.98 234.99 244.33 237.54 212.39 96.70 2 0.11 0.14 0.13 0.16 0.12 0.12 0.05 0.09 3 22.88 23.40 26.01 26.64 26.55 21.63 21.76 17.21 4 57.08 57.70 72.64 77.81 72.24 44.63 39.61 27.53 5 55.46 54.92 68.86 72.94 68.58 41.47 37.69 24.47 6 44.25 41.44 48.09 49.39 45.18 35.50 34.49 31.43 7 4.04 4.34 4.90 5.08 5.27 4.06 3.63 2.81 8 152.87 152.97 115.79 140.56 117.96 130.46 45.17 122.03 9 17.58 16.66 19.06 19.42 17.57 13.65 13.48 12.24 10 16.03 16.77 16.50 16.79 16.83 13.13 13.32 12.20 11 0.11 0.11 0.15 0.18 0.16 0.07 0.07 0.03 12 0.97 0.94 0.95 0.92 0.95 0.92 0.93 0.88 13 2.55 2.69 3.04 3.10 3.17 2.85 2.71 2.02 14 0.43 0.47 0.60 0.62 0.64 0.54 0.51 0.27 15 0.88 0.92 1.03 1.08 1.11 0.94 0.86 0.69 16 0.62 0.65 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.73 0.74 0.50 17 0.08 0.07 0.10 0.12 0.10 0.05 0.04 0.01 18 39.50 33.74 42.36 39.27 43.54 29.73 47.67 16.59 19 6063.00 7723.00 6796.33 8181.75 5685.67 4841.17 3036.33 4221.83 20 0.32 0.24 0.18 0.25 0.22 0.26 0.21 0.22 21 7.17 6.97 5.42 6.50 5.54 6.17 3.03 6.97 22 42.00 45.00 42.00 45.00 43.50 46.00 48.67 44.25 23 53.00 45.00 54.50 48.00 46.00 54.00 47.33 45.00 24 270.13 289.47 264.62 278.94 250.33 249.83 151.63 213.21 25 8.45 7.54 6.72 7.57 5.98 5.97 4.66 6.03 26 23.36 24.72 24.56 26.62 23.10 21.21 20.18 21.42 27 1.21 1.34 1.49 1.86 1.48 1.16 0.63 0.69 Table 33. Correlation IDs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...etc. refer to those described in Table 27 above [Maize correlated parameters (vectors)].

TABLE 34 Measured parameters in Maize accessions under normal conditions Ecotype/ Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Treat-ment 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 1 261.45 247.02 226.98 229.90 223.89 266.77 247.68 212.41 2 0.07 0.12 0.12 0.08 0.13 0.11 0.12 0.11 3 16.47 22.15 21.28 16.89 24.28 24.82 24.44 25.20 4 40.38 72.46 84.80 27.60 65.29 72.97 69.25 71.51 5 30.89 70.21 83.08 18.69 58.53 68.17 62.29 65.30 6 42.66 53.45 56.32 29.01 50.34 51.55 47.17 49.75 7 3.24 4.42 4.60 3.05 4.25 4.92 4.79 4.68 8 92.03 129.67 103.28 82.54 100.40 101.33 106.90 125.78 9 16.57 20.41 23.01 11.42 19.50 18.52 18.56 19.26 10 9.95 13.94 13.67 6.71 14.19 15.17 14.75 16.30 11 0.05 0.15 0.15 0.03 0.10 0.17 0.13 0.12 12 0.73 0.97 0.98 0.65 0.89 0.93 0.87 0.90 13 2.93 3.10 3.02 2.57 2.90 3.20 3.13 2.97 14 0.58 0.63 0.60 0.45 0.56 0.67 0.64 0.57 15 0.94 1.05 1.01 0.81 0.95 1.08 1.03 1.01 16 0.78 0.76 0.75 0.70 0.75 0.78 0.79 0.71 17 0.02 0.10 0.11 0.01 0.07 0.09 0.07 0.09 18 30.03 43.39 46.96 12.14 32.82 44.89 37.82 43.41 19 3521.17 6460.17 5934.17 3966.17 5898.00 6248.83 5150.67 6197.83 20 0.19 0.27 0.25 0.15 0.18 0.26 0.21 0.25 21 4.73 5.89 4.72 5.79 4.80 4.44 5.13 5.17 22 23 46.00 46.00 44.50 47.00 45.00 45.67 47.33 49.00 24 204.70 266.94 249.50 195.96 244.73 264.39 251.72 277.00 25 5.63 7.75 7.49 3.64 5.70 7.28 6.55 7.63 26 19.18 23.09 24.67 21.14 23.81 23.46 25.20 22.17 27 0.68 1.51 1.47 0.62 1.35 1.55 1.38 1.26 Table 34: Correlation IDs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...etc. refer to those described in Table 27 above [Maize correlated parameters (vectors)].

TABLE 35 Measured parameters in Maize accessions under normal conditions Ecotype/ Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Treatment 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 1 240.39 202.45 238.09 272.16 227.76 256.12 218.50 228.72 2 0.12 0.11 0.09 0.10 0.12 0.11 0.15 0.10 3 22.78 24.20 23.54 23.00 23.40 25.60 24.04 25.34 4 69.09 78.70 73.52 75.59 68.66 74.97 66.97 71.79 5 65.69 76.13 70.12 73.11 64.40 70.84 63.35 68.26 6 47.33 50.88 51.14 53.61 47.34 47.60 52.23 47.09 7 4.85 4.80 4.70 4.62 4.72 5.13 4.42 4.95 8 105.95 118.02 98.23 112.54 132.73 127.80 148.60 98.10 9 18.18 20.37 19.59 20.48 18.87 18.59 18.91 18.11 10 15.13 15.97 13.77 13.77 15.97 15.83 16.49 16.20 11 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.16 0.12 0.14 12 0.93 0.97 0.95 0.97 0.93 0.94 0.94 0.94 13 3.14 2.95 3.13 3.16 3.01 3.18 2.89 3.00 14 0.64 0.56 0.64 0.67 0.59 0.66 0.54 0.59 15 1.04 1.01 1.03 1.06 1.04 1.08 1.01 1.03 16 0.78 0.70 0.78 0.80 0.72 0.77 0.68 0.72 17 0.10 0.09 0.10 0.10 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.09 18 43.42 43.67 50.32 46.29 40.66 44.06 36.22 46.26 19 5762.83 7229.83 5846.33 6018.67 7234.17 6496.17 7163.83 5400.17 20 0.24 0.30 0.26 0.27 0.31 0.26 0.20 0.27 21 4.93 5.80 4.80 5.04 5.60 5.87 6.50 4.97 22 23 46.67 24 249.00 253.16 243.61 258.15 270.92 273.64 277.87 227.15 25 6.87 8.19 7.03 7.57 9.02 7.77 6.98 6.93 26 21.61 24.13 22.80 23.72 23.16 21.94 25.20 21.50 27 1.39 1.34 1.24 1.29 1.40 1.43 1.56 1.29 Table 35. Correlation IDs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...etc. refer to those described in Table 27 above [Maize correlated parameters (vectors)].

TABLE 36 Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance of maintenance of performance under drought conditions across maize varieties Gene Corr. Gene Corr. Name R P value Exp. set Set ID Name R P value Exp. set Set ID WYMI04 0.85 9.12E − 04 4 23 WYM104 0.71 6.86E − 05 2 18 WTYM105 0.71 6.04E − 04 3 18 WYM106 0.73 6.87E − 03 4 5 WYM106 0.72 8.70E − 03 4 17 WYM106 0.73 7.56E − 03 4 11 WYM106 0.71 9.85E − 03 4 12 WYM106 0.74 6.40E − 03 4 10 WYM106 0.81 1.27E − 03 4 18 WYM106 0.75 5.38E − 03 4 7 WYM106 0.71 9.56E − 03 4 3 WYM107 0.72 8.42E − 03 4 5 WYMI07 0.78 2.50E − 03 4 17 WYM107 0.78 2.65E − 03 4 11 WYM107 0.74 6.11E − 03 4 25 WYM107 0.77 3.19E − 03 4 18 WYM107 0.70 1.06E − 02 4 4 WYM107 0.72 8.55E − 03 4 7 WYM107 0.73 7.59E − 03 4 3 WYM107 0.71 9.65E − 03 4 6 WYM108 0.74 2.69E − 04 3 18 WYM108 0.74 6.00E − 03 4 25 WYM47 0.76 4.11E − 03 4 15 WYM47 0.79 2.35E − 03 4 25 WYM47 0.73 7.58E − 03 4 18 WYM47 0.80 1.75E − 03 4 14 WYM47 0.77 3.15E − 03 4 13 WYM47 0.74 5.86E − 03 4 7 WYM47 0.70 1.09E − 02 4 3 WYM47 0.70 1.10E − 02 4 20 WYM47 0.74 6.36E − 03 4 16 WYM48 0.72 8.60E − 03 4 17 WYM48 0.75 5.41E − 03 4 11 WYM48 0.80 1.68E − 03 4 18 WYM48 0.72 7.99E − 03 4 7 WYM48 0.74 6.01E − 03 4 3 WYM55 0.74 5.92E − 03 4 5 WYM55 0.75 5.16E − 03 4 17 WYM55 0.81 1.36E − 03 4 18 WYM55 0.71 9.45E − 03 4 4 WYM55 0.75 4.99E − 03 4 6 WYM56 0.73 7.04E − 03 4 5 WYM56 0.83 8.09E − 04 4 17 WYM56 0.86 3.00E − 04 4 11 WYM56 0.87 2.80E − 04 4 15 WYM56 0.74 5.74E − 03 4 25 WYM56 0.75 4.73E − 03 4 18 WYM56 0.83 8.97E − 04 4 14 WYM56 0.81 1.41E − 03 4 13 WYM56 0.73 6.51E − 03 4 4 WYM56 0.81 1.31E − 03 4 7 WYM56 0.81 1.57E − 03 4 3 WYM56 0.77 3.43E − 03 4 27 WYM56 0.78 2.52E − 03 4 19 WYM58 0.80 1.94E − 03 4 5 WYM58 0.86 3.30E − 04 4 17 WYM58 0.82 1.20E − 03 4 11 WYM58 0.77 3.62E − 03 4 15 WYM58 0.91 4.96E − 05 4 18 WYM58 0.75 4.93E − 03 4 14 WYM58 0.76 3.98E − 03 4 13 WYM58 0.78 2.76E − 03 4 4 WYM58 0.80 1.68E − 03 4 7 WYM58 0.79 2.15E − 03 4 3 WYM58 0.78 3.01E − 03 4 6 WYM64 0.74 6.08E − 03 4 17 WYM64 0.73 6.57E − 03 4 11 WYM64 0.73 6.63E − 03 4 15 WYM64 0.75 5.19E − 03 4 18 WYM64 0.79 2.27E − 03 4 14 WYM64 0.77 3.16E − 03 4 13 WYM64 0.73 6.63E − 03 4 7 WYM64 0.76 4.17E − 03 4 16 WYM67 0.75 4.59E − 03 4 5 WYM67 0.74 6.29E − 03 4 17 WYM67 0.72 7.99E − 03 4 11 WYM67 0.72 8.11E − 03 4 18 WYM67 0.74 6. 20E − 03 4 4 WYM67 0.71 9.69E − 03 4 3 WYM67 0.75 5.11E − 03 4 6 WYM69 0.83 8.10E − 04 4 21 WYM98 0.78 2.71E − 03 4 17 WYM98 0.72 8.14E − 03 4 11 WYM98 0.73 6. 72E − 03 4 15 WYM98 0.76 4.34E − 03 4 25 WYM98 0.82 2. 22E − 03 4 23 WYM98 0.80 1.79E − 03 4 18 WYM98 0.74 5. 63E − 03 4 14 WYM98 0.73 7.01E − 03 4 13 WYM98 0.74 5. 57E − 03 4 7 WYM98 0.74 5.73E − 03 4 3 WYM98 0.71 1. 04E − 02 4 19 Table 36. Correlations (R) between the genes expression levels in various tissues and the phenotypic performance. “Corr. ID” — correlation set ID according to the correlated parameters Table above. “Exp. Set” — Expression set. “R” = Pearson correlation coefficient; “P” = p value.

Example 8 Production of Brachypodium Transcriptome and High Throughput Correlation Analysis Using 60K Brachypodium Oligonucleotide Micro-Array

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis comparing between plant phenotype and gene expression level, the present inventors utilized a Brachypodium oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 60K Brachypodium genes and transcripts. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression and yield or vigor related parameters, various plant characteristics of 24 different Brachypodium accessions were analyzed. Among them, 22 accessions encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis.

The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Additional correlation analysis was done by comparing plant phenotype and gene copy number. The correlation between the normalized copy number hybridization signal and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Experimental Procedures

Analyzed Brachypodium tissues—two tissues [leaf and spike] were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 37 below.

TABLE 37 Brachypodium transcriptome expression sets Expression Set Set ID ecotypes 753/leaf: flowering: normal: 1 ecotypes 753/spike: flowering: normal: 2 Table 37: Provided are the brachypodium transcriptome expression sets under normal conditions.

Brachypodium yield components and vigor related parameters assessment -24 Brachypodium accessions were grown in 4-6 repetitive plots (8 plant per plot), in a green house. The growing protocol was as follows: Brachypodium seeds were sown in plots and grown under normal condition. Plants were continuously phenotyped during the growth period and at harvest (Table 38, below). The image analysis system included a personal desktop computer (Intel P43.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program—ImageJ 1.37 (Java based image processing program, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and freely available on the internet [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/]. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the spikes and the following parameters were measured using digital imaging system and collected:

No. of tillering—all tillers were counted per plant at harvest (mean per plot).

Head number—At the end of the experiment, heads were harvested from each plot and were counted.

Total Grains weight per plot (gr.)—At the end of the experiment (plant ‘Heads’) heads from plots were collected, the heads were threshed and grains were weighted. In addition, the average grain weight per head was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by number of total heads per plot (based on plot).

Highest number of spikelets—The highest spikelet number per head was calculated per plant (mean per plot).

Mean number of spikelets—The mean spikelet number per head was calculated per plot.

Plant height—Each of the plants was measured for its height using measuring tape. Height was measured from ground level to spike base of the longest spike at harvest.

Spikelets weight (gr.)—The biomass and spikes weight of each plot was separated, measured per plot.

Average head weight—calculated by dividing spikelets weight with head number (gr.).

Harvest Index—The harvest index was calculated using Formula XV.

Harvest Index (brachypodium)=Average grain weight/average dry (vegetative+spikelet) weight per plant.  Formula XV

Spikelets Index—The Spikelets index is calculated using Formula XVI.

Spikelets Index=Average Spikelets weight per plant/(Average vegetative dry weight per plant plus Average Spikelets weight per plant).  Formula XVI:

Percent Number of heads with spikelets—The number of heads with more than one spikelet per plant were counted and the percent from all heads per plant was calculated.

Total dry mater per plot—Calculated as Vegetative portion above ground plus all the spikelet dry weight per plot.

1000 grain weight—At the end of the experiment all grains from all plots were collected and weighted and the weight of 1000 were calculated.

The following parameters were collected using digital imaging system:

At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the spikes and the following parameters were measured and collected:

(i) Average Grain Area (cm²)—A sample of -200 grains was weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The grain area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

(ii) Average Grain Length, perimeter and width (cm)—A sample of -200 grains was weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain lengths and width (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

The image processing system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P43.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program—ImageJ 1.37, Java based image processing software, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is freely available on the internet at Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/. Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888×2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, image processing output data for seed area and seed length was saved to text files and analyzed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

TABLE 38 Brachypodium correlated parameters (vectors) Correlated parameter with Correlation ID 1000 grain weight 1 Average head weight 2 Grain Perimeter 3 Grain area 4 Grain length 5 Grain width 6 Grains weight per plant 7 Grains weight per plot 8 Harvest index 9 Heads per plant 10 Heads per plot 11 Highest num of spikelets per plot 12 Mean num of spikelets per plot 13 Num of heads with spikelets per plant 14 Percent Num of heads with spikelets 15 Plant Vegetative DW 16 Plant height 17 Plants num 18 Spikelets DW per plant 19 Spikelets weight 20 Spikes index 21 Tillering 22 Total dry mater per plant 23 Total dry mater per plot 24 Vegetative DW 25 Table 38: Provided are the brachypodium correlated parameters.

Experimental Results

25 different Brachypodium accessions were grown and characterized for different parameters as described above. The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software and values are summarized in Tables 39-40 below. Subsequent correlation analysis between the various transcriptome sets and the average parameters was conducted. Follow, results were integrated to the database.

TABLE 39 Measured parameters of correlation IDs in Brachypodium accessions under normal conditions Ecotype/ Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Treatment 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 3.75 3.78 3.35 4.88 5.54 4.98 4.83 5.54 3.84 4.76 4.73 2 0.06 0.04 0.05 0.07 0.04 0.06 0.05 0.04 0.08 0.06 0.05 3 1.67 1.62 1.62 1.69 1.82 1.83 1.74 1.93 1.68 1.82 1.69 4 0.10 0.10 0.09 0.09 0.11 0.11 0.10 0.11 0.10 0.11 0.10 5 0.73 0.72 0.72 0.74 0.83 0.82 0.78 0.90 0.75 0.79 0.75 6 0.18 0.17 0.17 0.16 0.16 0.17 0.17 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.17 7 0.14 0.06 0.08 0.26 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.11 0.08 0.07 0.39 8 1.05 0.44 0.61 1.96 1.11 1.07 1.09 0.84 0.50 0.39 3.07 9 0.13 0.14 0.15 0.20 0.20 0.16 0.14 0.26 0.07 0.11 0.22 10 16.29 7.08 6.59 11.63 10.48 9.09 14.13 5.88 11.89 8.02 23.75 11 121.75 56.60 52.75 83.40 82.40 70.13 110.33 47.00 81.50 48.60 185.50 12 3.00 2.60 3.00 2.20 2.00 2.25 1.83 2.00 3.50 2.00 2.50 13 2.10 2.10 1.72 1.69 1.38 1.65 1.43 1.25 2.41 1.56 1.76 14 5.27 2.50 2.06 2.08 0.71 1.94 1.08 0.35 7.59 1.87 4.98 15 27.61 35.33 21.67 14.00 5.42 15.42 6.40 4.51 55.41 16.51 15.52 16 0.42 0.12 0.13 0.38 0.32 0.32 0.39 0.13 0.44 0.31 0.87 17 31.65 23.44 22.75 31.95 34.36 28.65 28.88 24.74 31.40 29.15 37.30 18 7.50 8.00 8.00 7.20 7.80 7.75 7.83 8.00 6.50 6.40 7.75 19 0.96 0.31 0.33 0.88 0.44 0.56 0.67 0.26 0.92 0.45 1.14 20 7.18 2.50 2.68 6.42 3.45 4.29 5.29 2.04 6.25 2.66 8.89 21 0.71 0.72 0.73 0.71 0.58 0.66 0.64 0.66 0.69 0.60 0.59 22 16.84 7.20 7.00 11.97 10.67 9.38 14.58 6.35 12.38 8.60 25.50 23 1.38 0.43 0.47 1.25 0.76 0.88 1.06 0.38 1.36 0.76 2.01 24 10.26 3.45 3.74 9.12 6.00 6.78 8.34 3.04 9.21 4.47 15.79 25 3.08 0.95 1.06 2.69 2.55 2.48 3.05 1.00 2.96 1.81 6.89 Table 39: Correlation IDs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ...etc refer to those described in Table 38 above [Brachypodium correlated parameters (vectors)].

TABLE 40 Measured parameters of correlation IDs in brachypodium accessions under normal conditions Ecotype/ Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Line- Treatment 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 1 5.24 4.96 4.00 4.26 5.99 4.34 3.70 3.90 4.82 4.87 3.76 2 0.05 0.06 0.10 0.08 0.08 0.06 0.09 0.04 0.06 0.09 0.09 3 1.91 1.71 1.81 1.75 1.87 1.66 1.65 1.60 1.80 1.90 1.68 4 0.12 0.10 0.10 0.09 0.12 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.10 0.11 0.09 5 0.86 0.74 0.84 0.80 0.84 0.74 0.75 0.72 0.79 0.87 0.76 6 0.19 0.17 0.15 0.14 0.18 0.16 0.15 0.15 0.17 0.16 0.15 7 0.14 0.13 0.37 0.49 0.31 0.20 0.35 0.27 0.32 0.44 0.30 8 1.09 1.07 2.99 3.52 2.41 1.47 2.58 2.03 2.58 3.40 1.92 9 0.09 0.18 0.09 0.16 0.18 0.11 0.21 0.17 0.15 0.18 0.09 10 16.06 9.74 22.19 24.32 13.25 19.22 16.11 21.40 25.88 17.05 25.54 11 125.00 80.75 177.50 172.80 98.60 143.17 123.50 156.83 207 135 177 12 2.40 2.00 3.50 3.80 2.80 2.83 2.83 2.33 2.60 4.50 3.17 13 1.83 1.42 2.71 2.61 2.12 2.15 2.17 1.85 1.93 2.85 2.79 14 3.70 0.89 12.58 12.13 6.35 7.15 9.44 5.02 4.90 7.72 15.36 15 20.34 8.11 53.21 47.81 42.81 34.92 52.40 20.84 17.55 47.73 59.01 16 0.69 0.34 1.72 1.32 0.48 0.63 0.82 0.67 0.87 1.05 1.73 17 45.09 22.39 55.04 45.34 40.20 39.18 45.35 29.41 38.39 46.74 58.82 18 8.00 8.25 8.00 7.00 7.60 7.33 7.50 7.33 8.00 7.88 6.83 19 0.83 0.59 2.27 1.91 1.09 1.26 1.46 0.96 1.56 1.42 2.25 20 6.65 4.92 18.15 13.49 8.35 9.42 11.31 7.16 12.44 11.05 15.55 21 0.54 0.68 0.56 0.59 0.70 0.66 0.68 0.60 0.65 0.57 0.57 22 16.56 10.53 27.15 26.30 13.56 20.79 16.99 23.61 27.20 18.25 29.09 23 1.53 0.93 3.99 3.23 1.57 1.89 2.28 1.63 2.43 2.47 3.98 24 12.20 7 76 31.94 22.78 12.04 14.14 17.78 12.29 19.40 19.27 27.67 25 5.55 2.84 13.80 9.28 3.70 4.72 6.47 5.13 6.96 8.23 12.12 Table 40: Correlation IDs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...etc. refer to those described in Table 38 above [Brachypodium correlated parameters (vectors)].

TABLE 41 Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance of maintenance of performance under drought conditions across brachypodium ecotypes Gene P Exp. Corr. Gene P Exp. Corr. Name R value set Set ID Name R value set Set ID WYM100 0.78 7.47E − 03 2 24 WYM100 0.71 2.13E − 02 2 19 WYM100 0.71 2.03E − 02 2 7 WYM100 0.82 3.36E − 03 2 25 WYM100 0.79 6.09E − 03 2 16 WYM100 0.74 1.38E − 02 2 20 WYM100 0.82 3.50E − 03 2 17 WYM100 0.73 1.65E − 02 2 8 WYM100 0.73 1.67E − 02 2 2 WYM100 0.75 1.24E − 02 2 23 WYM101 0.86 6.31E − 04 1 12 WYM101 0.72 1.24E − 02 1 7 WYM101 0.80 2.86E − 03 1 13 WYM101 0.70 1.57E − 02 1 8 WYM101 0.78 7.88E − 03 2 7 WYM101 0.77 8.93E − 03 2 8 WYM21 0.76 6.26E − 03 1 7 WYM21 0.84 1.23E − 03 I 15 WYM21 0.71 1.54E − 02 1 14 WYM21 0.73 1.06E − 02 1 17 WYM21 0.75 7.67E − 03 1 8 WYM21 0.85 8.73E − 04 1 2 WYM22 0.82 2.16E − 03 1 7 WYM22 0.71 1.44E − 02 1 25 WYM22 0.72 1.30E − 02 1 17 WYM22 0.83 1.73E − 03 1 8 WYM23 0.81 2.57E − 03 1 11 WYM23 0.79 3.91E − 03 1 22 WYM23 0.73 1.05E − 02 1 19 WYM23 0.88 3.22E − 04 1 12 WYM23 0.72 1.22E − 02 I 7 WYM23 0.73 1.11E − 02 1 15 WYM23 0.72 1.24E − 02 1 16 WYM23 0.75 8.25E − 03 1 14 WYM23 0.89 2.59E − 04 1 13 WYM23 0.83 1.59E − 03 1 10 WYM23 0.73 1.04E − 02 1 23 WYM24 0.84 1.33E − 03 1 11 WYM24 0.82 2.01E − 03 1 22 WYM24 0.85 1.00E − 03 1 24 WYM24 0.87 4.23E − 04 1 19 WYM24 0.89 2.05E − 04 1 12 WYM24 0.92 7.82E − 05 1 7 WYM24 0.80 3.30E − 03 1 25 WYM24 0.85 1.02E − 03 1 15 WYM24 0.80 3.12E − 03 1 16 WYM24 0.84 1.12E − 03 1 14 WYM24 0.88 4.03E − 04 1 20 WYM24 0.89 2.16E − 04 1 13 WYM24 0.90 1.72E − 04 1 8 WYM24 0.82 2.18E − 03 1 10 WYM24 0.85 1.00E − 03 1 2 WYM24 0.85 9.86E − 04 1 23 WYM24 0.84 2.56E − 03 2 11 WYM24 0.88 8.05E − 04 2 22 WYM24 0.84 2.39E − 03 2 24 WYM24 0.87 9.31E − 04 2 19 WYM24 0.81 4.12E − 03 2 25 WYM24 0.80 5.52E − 03 2 15 WYM24 0.84 2.46E − 03 2 16 WYM24 0.88 8.44E − 04 2 14 WYM24 0.85 1.68E − 03 2 20 WYM24 0.73 1.64E − 02 2 13 WYM24 0.76 1.11E − 02 2 17 WYM24 0.86 1.59E − 03 2 10 WYM24 0.74 1.45E − 02 2 2 WYM24 0.86 1.36E − 03 2 23 WYM25 0.72 1.16E − 02 1 24 WYM25 0.72 1.29E − 02 1 19 WYM25 0.87 5.26E − 04 1 12 WYM25 0.74 8.61E − 03 1 7 WYM25 0.72 1.18E − 02 1 25 WYM25 0.80 3.13E − 03 1 15 WYM25 0.72 1.20E − 02 1 16 WYM25 0.73 1.08E − 02 1 14 WYM25 0.72 1.34E − 02 1 20 WYM25 0.88 4.11E − 04 1 13 WYM25 0.77 5.52E − 03 1 17 WYM25 0.72 1.17E − 02 1 8 WYM25 0.73 1.02E − 02 1 2 WYM25 0.73 1.15E − 02 1 23 WYM25 0.77 8.63E − 03 2 11 WYM25 0.80 5.38E − 03 2 22 WYM25 0.78 8.24E − 03 2 24 WYM25 0.78 7.44E − 03 2 19 WYM25 0.77 9.23E − 03 2 25 WYM25 0.74 1.50E − 02 2 15 WYM25 0.78 8.19E − 03 2 16 WYM25 0.80 5.33E − 03 2 14 WYM25 0.78 8.22E − 03 2 20 WYM25 0.79 6.72E − 03 2 17 WYM25 0.78 8.25E − 03 2 10 WYM25 0.78 7.39E − 03 2 23 WYM26 0.77 5.81E − 03 1 11 WYM26 0.74 9.07E − 03 1 22 WYM26 0.79 3.90E − 03 1 24 WYM26 0.77 5.38E − 03 1 19 WYM26 0.93 4.41E − 05 1 12 WYM26 0.76 6.30E − 03 1 7 WYM26 0.83 1.66E − 03 1 5 WYM26 0.81 7.30E − 03 1 25 WYM26 0.77 5.96E − 03 1 15 WYM26 0.76 7.04E − 03 1 3 WYM26 0.79 3.95E − 03 1 16 WYM26 0.74 8.81E − 03 1 14 WYM26 0.78 4.56E − 03 1 20 WYM26 0.90 1.54E − 04 1 13 WYM26 0.72 1.17E − 02 1 17 WYM26 0.76 7.03E − 03 1 8 WYM26 0.73 1.08E − 02 1 10 WYM26 0.74 9.36E − 03 1 2 WYM26 0.78 4.64E − 03 1 23 WYM26 0.81 4.33E − 03 2 11 WYM26 0.82 3.76E − 03 2 22 WYM26 0.75 1.19E − 02 2 24 WYM26 0.81 4.75E − 03 2 19 WYM26 0.79 6.55E − 03 2 12 WYM26 0.71 2.08E − 02 2 25 WYM26 0.88 8.81E − 04 2 15 WYM26 0.74 1.46E − 02 2 16 WYM26 0.85 1.77E − 03 2 14 WYM26 0.78 7.67E − 03 2 20 WYM26 0.88 8.82E − 04 2 13 WYM26 0.77 9.90E − 03 2 17 WYM26 0.83 2.91E − 03 2 10 WYM26 0.72 2.00E − 02 2 2 WYM26 0.78 7.81E − 03 2 23 WYM27 0.74 9.81E − 03 1 11 WYM27 0.72 1.30E − 02 1 19 WYM27 0.86 7.50E − 04 1 17 WYM27 0.86 7.19E − 04 1 7 WYM27 0.76 6.79E − 03 1 15 WYM27 0.72 1.22E − 02 1 14 WYM27 0.73 1.11E − 02 1 20 WYM27 0.81 2.68E − 03 1 13 WYM27 0.75 7.45E − 03 1 17 WYM27 0.85 8.11E − 04 1 8 WYM27 0.71 1.41E − 02 1 10 WYM28 0.76 6.12E − 03 1 11 WYM28 0.80 3.03E − 03 1 22 WYM28 0.86 6.25E − 04 1 24 WYM28 0.86 6.84E − 04 1 19 WYM28 0.81 2.33E − 03 1 7 WYM28 0.87 5.80E − 04 1 25 WYM28 0.80 3.18E − 03 1 15 WYM28 0.88 4.10E − 04 1 16 WYM28 0.85 8.82E − 04 1 14 WYM28 0.85 9.63E − 04 1 20 WYM28 0.82 2.15E − 03 1 13 WYM28 0.83 1.56E − 03 1 17 WYM28 0.78 5.04E − 03 1 8 WYM28 0.77 5.62E − 03 1 10 WYM28 0.80 3.41E − 03 1 2 WYM28 0.87 4.38E − 04 1 23 WYM29 0.78 8.03E − 03 2 11 WYM29 0.81 4.78E − 03 2 22 WYM29 0.81 4.37E − 03 2 24 WYM29 0.83 3.13E − 05 2 19 WYM29 0.80 5.00E − 03 2 7 WYM29 0.81 4.22E − 03 2 25 WYM29 0.79 6.14E − 03 2 15 WYM29 0.82 3.31E − 03 2 16 WYM29 0.83 3.29E − 03 2 14 WYM29 0.80 5.04E − 03 2 20 WYM29 0.76 1.14E − 02 2 13 WYM29 0.78 8.18E − 03 2 8 WYM29 0.79 6.66E − 03 2 10 WYM29 0.80 5.32E − 03 2 2 WYM29 0.83 3.17E − 03 2 23 WYM30 0.73 1.08E − 02 1 7 WYM30 0.71 1.49E − 02 1 8 WYM31 0.82 1.97E − 03 1 11 WYM31 0.77 5.14E − 03 1 22 WYM31 0.84 1.28E − 03 1 24 WYM31 0.83 1.61E − 03 1 19 WYM31 0.76 6.13E − 03 1 12 WYM31 0.89 2.60E − 04 1 7 WYM31 0.81 2.66E − 03 1 25 WYM31 0.81 2.27E − 03 1 15 WYM31 0.79 3.88E − 03 1 16 WYM31 0.79 4.01E − 03 1 14 WYM31 0.85 8.91E − 04 1 20 WYM31 0.80 3.08E − 03 1 13 WYM31 0.74 8.99E − 03 1 17 WYM31 0.89 2.70E − 04 1 8 WYM31 0.78 5.01E − 03 1 10 WYM31 0.83 1.62E − 03 1 2 WYM31 0.82 2.13E − 03 1 23 WYM31 0.75 1.22E − 02 2 11 WYM31 0.71 2.08E − 02 2 22 WYM31 0.77 9.72E − 03 2 12 WYM31 0.85 1.94E − 03 2 7 WYM31 0.74 1.44E − 02 2 13 WYM31 0.83 2.83E − 03 2 8 WYM31 0.74 1.46E − 02 2 10 WYM32 0.86 6.81E − 04 1 12 WYM32 0.81 2.75E − 03 1 7 WYM32 0.78 4.92E − 03 1 13 WYM32 0.71 1.44E − 02 1 17 WYM32 0.80 3.44E − 03 1 8 WYM32 0.74 1.39E − 02 2 12 WYM32 0.72 1.93E − 02 2 5 WYM33 0.80 3.20E − 03 1 7 WYM33 0.78 4.22E − 03 1 8 WYM33 0.70 2.40E − 02 2 21 WYM34 0.73 1.04E − 02 1 12 WYM34 0.91 8.90E − 05 1 7 WYM34 0.77 6.08E − 03 1 15 WYM34 0.93 3.40E − 05 1 8 WYM34 0.80 3.03E − 03 1 2 WYM35 0.83 1.52E − 03 1 11 WYM35 0.85 9.90E − 04 1 22 WYM35 0.89 2.81E − 04 1 24 WYM35 0.89 2.81E − 04 1 19 WYM35 0.88 3.57E − 04 1 12 WYM35 0.83 1.42E − 03 1 7 WYM35 0.88 3.89E − 04 1 25 WYM35 0.81 2.36E − 03 1 15 WYM35 0.88 3.03E − 04 1 16 WYM35 0.86 7.69E − 04 1 14 WYM35 0.88 3.46E − 04 1 20 WYM35 0.92 5.89E − 05 1 13 WYM35 0.78 4.70E − 03 1 17 WYM35 0.81 2.49E − 03 1 8 WYM35 0.82 1.86E − 03 1 10 WYM35 0.81 2.44E − 03 1 2 WYM35 0.89 2.23E − 04 1 23 WYM99 0.73 1.65E − 02 2 12 WYM99 0.71 2.08E − 02 2 7 WYM99 0.76 1.07E − 02 2 5 WYM99 0.72 1.90E − 02 2 8 Table 41: Correlations (R) between the genes expression levels in various tissues and the phenotypic performance. “Corr. ID”   correlation set ID according to the correlated parameters Table above. “Exp. Set”   Expression set. “R” = Pearson correlation coefficient; “P” = p value.

Example 9 Production of Foxtail Millet Transcriptome and High Throughput Correlation Analysis Using 60K Foxtail Millet Oligonucleotide Micro-Array

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis comparing between plant phenotype and gene expression level, the present inventors utilized a foxtail millet oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 60K foxtail millet genes and transcripts. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression and yield or vigor related parameters, various plant characteristics of 15 different foxtail millet accessions were analyzed. Among them, 11 accessions encompassing the observed variance were selected for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) davidmlane (dot) com/hyperstat/A34739 (dot) html].

Experimental Procedures

Analyzed Foxtail millet tissues—three tissues at different developmental stages [leaf, flower, and stem], representing different plant characteristics, were sampled and RNA was extracted as described above. Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 42 below.

TABLE 42 Foxtail millet transcriptome expression sets under normal conditions Expression Set Set ID flower: flowering stage 1 leaf: flowering stage 2 grain: grain tilling stage: normal 4 leaf: grain filling stage: normal 5 stem: grain filling stage: normal 6 Table 42: Provided are the foxtail millet transcriptome expression sets under normal conditions

Foxtail millet yield components and vigor related parameters assessment—14 Foxtail millet accessions in 5 repetitive plots, in the field. Foxtail millet seeds were sown in soil and grown under normal condition in the field. Plants were continuously phenotyped during the growth period and at harvest (Table 44-45, below). The image analysis system included a personal desktop computer (Intel P43.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program—ImageJ 1.37 (Java based image processing program, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and freely available on the internet [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/]. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

The following parameters were collected using digital imaging system:

At the end of the growing period the grains were separated from the Plant ‘Head’ and the following parameters were measured and collected:

(i) Average Grain Area (cm²)—A sample of -200 grains was weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The grain area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

(ii) Average Grain Length and width (cm)—A sample of -200 grains was weighted, photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system. The sum of grain lengths and width (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of grains.

At the end of the growing period 14 ‘Heads’ were photographed and images were processed using the below described image processing system.

(i) Head Average Area (cm²) The ‘Head’ area was measured from those images and was divided by the number of ‘Heads’.

(ii) Head Average Length (mm) The ‘Head’ length (longest axis) was measured from those images and was divided by the number of ‘Heads’.

The image processing system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P43.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program—ImageJ 1.37, Java based image processing software, which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is freely available on the internet at Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/. Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888×2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, image processing output data for seed area and seed length was saved to text files and analyzed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Additional parameters were collected either by sampling 5 plants per plot or by measuring the parameter across all the plants within the plot.

Total Grain Weight (gr.)—At the end of the experiment (plant ‘Heads’) heads from plots were collected, the heads were threshed and grains were weighted. In addition, the average grain weight per head was calculated by dividing the total grain weight by number of total heads per plot (based on plot).

Head weight and head number—At the end of the experiment, heads were harvested from each plot and were counted and weighted (kg.).

Biomass at harvest—At the end of the experiment the vegetative material from plots was weighted.

Dry weight=total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) after drying at 70° C. in oven for 48 hours at harvest.

Total dry mater per plot—Calculated as Vegetative portion above ground plus all the heads dry weight per plot.

Number (Num) days to anthesis—Calculated as the number of days from sowing till 50% of the plot arrives at anthesis.

Maintenance of performance under drought conditions: Represent ratio for the specified parameter of Drought condition results divided by Normal conditions results (maintenance of phenotype under drought in comparison to normal conditions).

Data parameters collected are summarized in Table 43, herein below

TABLE 43 Foxtail millet correlated parameters (vectors) Correlated parameter with Correlation ID Biomass at harvest 1 Grain area 2 Grain length 3 Grain width 4 Grains weight per Head (plot) 5 Head Area 6 Head length 7 Heads num 8 Num days to Anthesis 9 Total Grains weight 10 Total dry matter 11 Total heads weight 12 Table 43: Provided are the foxtail millet collected parameters.

Experimental Results

14 different foxtail millet accessions were grown and characterized for different parameters as described above. The average for each of the measured parameter was calculated using the JMP software and values are summarized in Tables 44-45 below. Subsequent correlation analysis between the various transcriptome sets and the average parameters was conducted. Follow, results were integrated to the database.

TABLE 44 Measured parameters of correlation IDs in foxtail millet accessions under normal conditions Line/ Correlation ID 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2.14 3.99 3.17 3.58 3.60 3.06 4.04 2 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 3 0.24 0.24 0.25 0.25 0.26 0.25 0.23 4 0.17 0.19 0.17 0.16 0.16 0.17 0.16 5 3.40 7.29 1.49 1.30 1.57 0.69 2.10 6 37.83 57.87 19.59 17.10 19.76 9.42 22.92 7 23.13 24.25 17.56 14.79 15.38 8.56 16.08 8 427.60 149.20 867.00 1204.00 1146.40 2132.00 752.20 9 34.00 41.00 45.00 41.00 41.00 30.00 38.00 10  1449.63 1067.88 1302.82 1567.20 1794.80 1476.11 1582.57 11  0.62 0.85 0.96 0.92 0.90 0.48 0.92 12  3.81 5.95 6.20 5.64 6.27 6.07 6.32 1 2.14 3.99 3.17 3.58 3.60 3.06 4.04 2 0.03 0.04 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 0.03 Table 44: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Foxtail millet accessions (line) under normal growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

TABLE 45 Additional measured parameters of correlation IDs in foxtail millet accessions under normal conditions Line/ Correlation ID 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1 1.15 3.20 3.90 3.58 3.68 2.94 1.48 2 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.03 3 0.20 0.22 0.20 0.26 0.25 0.27 0.24 4 0.15 0.18 0.16 0.18 0.17 0.18 0.16 5 3.34 11.46 7.17 4.35 2.26 0.44 1.31 6 40.89 45.29 49.34 27.69 24.18 7.13 14.69 7 21.88 20.41 23.32 20.87 17.98 6.35 9.78 8 394.20 186.60 131.80 434.20 646.40 2797.80 994.60 9 30.00 38.00 51.00 44.00 51.00 31.00 27.00 10  1317.88 2131.60 937.93 1880.21 1427.12 1216.24 1296.69 11  0.45 0.59 1.00 0.91 1.03 0.62 0.46 12  2.82 7.25 5.24 6.58 5.85 5.62 2.73 1 1.15 3.20 3.90 3.58 3.68 2.94 1.48 2 0.02 0.03 0.02 0.04 0.03 0.04 0.03 Table 45: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in Foxtail millet accessions (line) under normal growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

TABLE 46 Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance of maintenance of performance under drought conditions across foxtail millet varieties P Exp. Corr. P Exp. Corr. Gene Name R value set Set ID Gene Name R value set Set ID WYM102 0.95 0.00 6 5 WYM102 0.70 0.05 6 10  WYM102 0.83 0.01 6 6 WYM102 0.86 0.03 2 5 WYM102 0.71 0.11 2 10  WYM103 0.87 0.03 2 5 WYM103 0.80 0.06 2 7 WYM103 0.80 0.06 2 4 WYM103 0.83 0.04 2 6 WYM36 0.71 0.01 1 7 WYM36 0.80 0.00 I 9 WYM36 0.74 0.01 4 12  WYM36 0.79 0.01 4 5 WYM36 0.92 0.00 4 10  WYM36 0.73 0.04 6 7 WYM36 0.73 0.04 6 6 WYM36 0.74 0.10 2 5 WYM36 0.97 0.00 2 7 WYM36 0.86 0.03 2 4 WYM36 0.90 0.01 2 6 WYM36 0.74 0.01 3 11  WYM36 0.72 0.02 3 9 WYM37 0.87 0.00 6 5 WYM37 0.91 0.00 6 10  WYM37 0.81 0.01 6 7 WYM37 0.94 0.00 6 6 WYM37 0.77 0.07 2 3 WYM37 0.86 0.03 2 8 WYM38 0.77 0.03 6 2 WYM38 0.83 0.00 3 5 WYM40 0.78 0.01 4 12  WYM40 0.74 0.01 4 11  WYM40 0.85 0.00 4 9 WYM40 0.88 0.00 4 1 WYM40 0.71 0.05 6 5 WYM41 0.84 0.00 1 2 WYM41 0.73 0.04 6 11  WYM41 0.76 0.08 2 5 WYM41 0.71 0.11 2 6 Table 46: Correlations (R) between the genes expression levels in various tissues and the phenotypic performance. “Corr. ID”   correlation set ID according to the correlated parameters Table above. “Exp. Set”   Expression set. “R” = Pearson correlation coefficient; “P” = p value.

Example 10 Production of Soybean (Glycine max) Transcriptome and High Throughput Correlation Analysis with Yield Parameters Using 44K B. Soybean Oligonucleotide Micro-Arrays

In order to produce a high throughput correlation analysis, the present inventors utilized a Soybean oligonucleotide micro-array, produced by Agilent Technologies [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) chem. (dot) agilent (dot) com/Scripts/PDS (dot) asp?lPage=50879]. The array oligonucleotide represents about 42,000 Soybean genes and transcripts. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression with yield components or plant architecture related parameters or plant vigor related parameters, various plant characteristics of 29 different Glycine max varieties were analyzed and 12 varieties were further used for RNA expression analysis. The correlation between the RNA levels and the characterized parameters was analyzed using Pearson correlation test.

Correlation of Glycine max genes' expression levels with phenotypic characteristics across ecotype

Experimental Procedures

29 Soybean varieties were grown in three repetitive plots, in field. Briefly, the growing protocol was as follows: Soybean seeds were sown in soil and grown under normal conditions until harvest. In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression with yield components or plant architecture related parameters or vigor related parameters, 12 different Soybean varieties (out of 29 varieties) were analyzed and used for gene expression analyses. Analysis was performed at two pre-determined time periods: at pod set (when the soybean pods are formed) and at harvest time (when the soybean pods are ready for harvest, with mature seeds).

Analyzed Soybean Tissues

In order to define correlations between the levels of RNA expression with yield components or plant architecture related parameters or vigor related parameters, 12 different Soybean varieties (out of 29 varieties) were analyzed and used for gene expression analyses as described above. Analysis was performed at two pre-determined time periods: at pod set (when the soybean pods are formed) and at harvest time (when the soybean pods are ready for harvest, with mature seeds). Each micro-array expression information tissue type has received a Set ID as summarized in Table 47 below.

TABLE 47 Soybean transcriptome expression sets Expression Set Set ID Apical meristem; before flowering 1 Leaf; before flowering 2 Leaf; flowering 3 Leaf; pod setting 4 Root; before flowering 5 Root: flowering 6 Root: pod setting 7 Stem: before flowering 8 Stem: pod setting 9 Young flowers: flowering 10 Pod; pod setting 11 Table 47. Provided are the soybean transcriptome expression sets.

RNA extraction—All 12 selected Soybean varieties were sample per treatment. Plant tissues [leaf, root, Stem, Pod, apical meristem, Flower buds] growing under normal conditions were sampled and RNA was extracted at the noted stages (e.g., before flowering, at flowering, at pod setting) as described above.

The collected data parameters were as follows:

Main branch base diameter [mm] at pod set—the diameter of the base of the main branch (based diameter) average of three plants per plot.

Fresh weight [gr./plant] at pod set—total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) before drying at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Dry weight [gr./plant] at pod set—total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) after drying at 70° C. in oven for 48 hours at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of nodes with pods on lateral branches [value/plant]—counting of nodes which contain pods in lateral branches at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Number of lateral branches at pod set [value/plant]—counting number of lateral branches at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total weight of lateral branches at pod set [gr./plant]—weight of all lateral branches at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total weight of pods on main stem at pod set [gr./plant]—weight of all pods on main stem at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of nodes on main stem [value/plant]—count of number of nodes on main stem starting from first node above ground, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of pods with 1 seed on lateral branches at pod set [value/plant]-count of the number of pods containing 1 seed in all lateral branches at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of pods with 2 seeds on lateral branches at pod set [value/plant]—count of the number of pods containing 2 seeds in all lateral branches at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of pods with 3 seeds on lateral branches at pod set [value/plant]—count of the number of pods containing 3 seeds in all lateral branches at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of pods with 4 seeds on lateral branches at pod set [value/plant]—count of the number of pods containing 4 seeds in all lateral branches at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of pods with 1 seed on main stem at pod set [value/plant]—count of the number of pods containing 1 seed in main stem at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of pods with 2 seeds on main stem at pod set [value/plant]-count of the number of pods containing 2 seeds in main stem at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of pods with 3 seeds on main stem at pod set [value/plant]-count of the number of pods containing 3 seeds in main stem at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of pods with 4 seeds on main stem at pod set [value/plant]-count of the number of pods containing 4 seeds in main stem at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of seeds per plant at pod set [value/plant]—count of number of seeds in lateral branches and main stem at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of seeds on lateral branches at pod set [value/plant]—count of total number of seeds on lateral branches at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of seeds on main stem at pod set [value/plant]—count of total number of seeds on main stem at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Plant height at pod set [cm/plant]—total length from above ground till the tip of the main stem at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Plant height at harvest [cm/plant]—total length from above ground till the tip of the main stem at harvest, average of three plants per plot.

Total weight of pods on lateral branches at pod set [gr./plant]—weight of all pods on lateral branches at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Ratio of the number of pods per node on main stem at pod set—calculated in formula XVII, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of pods on main stem/Total number of nodes on main stem, average of three plants per plot.  Formula XVII:

Ratio of total number of seeds in main stem to number of seeds on lateral branches—calculated in Formula XVIII, average of three plants per plot.

Total number of seeds on main stem at pod set/Total number of seeds on lateral branches at pod set.  Formula XVIII:

Total weight of pods per plant at pod set [gr./plant]—weight of all pods on lateral branches and main stem at pod set, average of three plants per plot.

Days till 50% flowering [days]—number, of days till 50% flowering for each plot.

Days till 100% flowering [days]—number of days till 100% flowering for each plot.

Maturity [days]—measure as 95% of the pods in a plot have ripened (turned 100% brown). Delayed leaf drop and green stems are not considered in assigning maturity. Tests are observed 3 days per week, every other day, for maturity. The maturity date is the date that 95% of the pods have reached final color. Maturity is expressed in days after August 31 [according to the accepted definition of maturity in USA, Descriptor list for SOYBEAN, Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) ars-grin (dot) gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/desclist (dot) pl?51].

Seed quality [ranked 1-5]—measure at harvest; a visual estimate based on several hundred seeds. Parameter is rated according to the following scores considering the amount and degree of wrinkling, defective coat (cracks), greenishness, and moldy or other pigment. Rating is 1-very good, 2-good, 3-fair, 4-poor, 5-very poor.

Lodging [ranked 1-5]—is rated at maturity per plot according to the following scores: 1-most plants in a plot are erected; 2-all plants leaning slightly or a few plants down; 3-all plants leaning moderately, or 25%-50% down; 4-all plants leaning considerably, or 50%-80% down; 5-most plants down. Note: intermediate score such as 1.5 are acceptable.

Seed size [gr.]—weight of 1000 seeds per plot normalized to 13% moisture, measure at harvest.

Total weight of seeds per plant [gr./plant]—calculated at harvest (per 2 inner rows of a trimmed plot) as weight in grams of cleaned seeds adjusted to 13% moisture and divided by the total number of plants in two inner rows of a trimmed plot.

Yield at harvest [bushels/hectare]—calculated at harvest (per 2 inner rows of a trimmed plot) as weight in grams of cleaned seeds, adjusted to 13% moisture, and then expressed as bushels per acre.

Average lateral branch seeds per pod [number]—Calculate Num of Seeds on lateral branches—at pod set and divide by the Number of Total number of pods with seeds on lateral branches—at pod set.

Average main stem seeds per pod [number]—Calculate Total Number of Seeds on main stem at pod set and divide by the Number of Total number of pods with seeds on main stem at pod setting.

Main stem average internode length [cm]—Calculate Plant height at pod set and divide by the Total number of nodes on main stem at pod setting.

Total num of pods with seeds on main stem [number]—count all pods containing seeds on the main stem at pod setting.

Total num of pods with seeds on lateral branches [number]—count all pods containing seeds on the lateral branches at pod setting.

Total number of pods per plant at pod set [number]—count pods on main stem and lateral branches at pod setting.

Data parameters collected are summarized in Table 48, herein below

TABLE 48 Correlated parameter with Correlation ID 100 percent flowering 1  50 percent flowering 2 Base diameter at pod set 3 DW at pod set 4 Lodging 5 Maturity 6 Num of lateral branches 7 Num of pods with 1 seed on main stem at pod set 8 Num of pods with 2 seed on main stem 9 Num of pods with 3 seed on main stem 10 Num of pods with 4 seed on main stem 11 Plant height at harvest 12 Plant height at pod set 13 Ratio number of pods per node on main stem 14 Ratio number of seeds per main stem to seeds 15 per 1 Seed quality 16 Seed size 17 Total Number of Seeds on lateral branches 18 Total Number of Seeds on main stem at pod set 19 Total no of pods with 1 seed on lateral branch 20 Total no of pods with 2 seed on lateral branch 21 Total no of pods with 3 seed on lateral branch 22 Total no of pods with 4 seed on lateral branch 23 Total number of nodes on main stem 24 Total number of nodes with pods on lateral branch 25 Total number of seeds per plant 26 Total weight of lateral branches at pod set 27 Total weight of pods on lateral branches 28 Total weight of pods on main stem at pod set 29 Total weight of pods per plant 30 Total weight of seeds per plant 31 fresh weight at pod set 32 yield at harvest 33 Table 48: Provided are the soybean correlated parameters. “DW” = dry weight;

Experimental Results

Twelve different Soybean varieties were grown and characterized for 33 parameters as specified above. The average for each of the measured parameters was calculated using the JMP software and values are summarized in Tables 49-50 below. Subsequent correlation analysis between the various transcriptome expression sets and the average parameters was conducted. Results were then integrated to the database.

TABLE 49 Measured parameters in Soybean varieties (lines 1-6) Line/ Correlation ID Line-1 Line-2 Line-3 Line-4 Line-5 Line-6  1 67.33 71.67 67.67 67.33 60 74  2 61 65.33 60.67 61 54.67 68.33  3 8.333 9.544 9.678 8.111 8.822 10.12  4 53.67 50.33 38 46.17 60.83 55.67  5 1.667 1.833 1.167 1.667 2.667 2.833  6 24 43.67 30.33 30.33 38.33 40  7 9 8.667 9.111 9.889 7.667 17.56  8 1.111 4.375 1.444 1.444 4.556 1.667  9 16.89 16.25 13.22 16.89 27 8.111 10 29.56 1.75 19.78 22.33 11.67 22.78 11 0 0 0.111 0.111 0 0.444 12 96.67 76.67 67.5 75.83 74.17 76.67 13 86.78 69.56 62.44 70.89 69.44 63.89 14 2.874 1.377 2.132 2.256 2.6 1.87 15 0.893 0.896 0.869 0.891 2.316 0.365 16 2.333 3.5 3 2.167 2.833 2 17 89 219.3 93 86 191.3 71.33 18 150.9 55.89 134 160.4 75.44 324.6 19 123.6 43.89 87.67 102.7 93.56 88 20 1.556 3 1.778 1.778 5.667 5.625 21 17 18.75 26.44 32.33 21.56 33.5 22 38.44 2 26.44 31.33 8.889 82 23 0 0 0 0 0 1.5 24 16.56 16.78 16.11 18.11 16.78 17.11 25 23 16 23.11 33 15.22 45.25 26 274.4 99.78 221.7 263.1 169 412.5 27 67.78 63.78 64.89 74.89 54 167.2 28 26 14.89 20.11 20.11 21.11 30.25 29 22.11 14.33 16 15 33.78 9 30 48.11 29.22 36.11 35.11 54.89 38.88 31 15.09 10.5 17.23 16.51 12.06 10.25 32 170.9 198.2 152.6 163.9 224.7 265 33 47.57 43.77 50.37 56.3 44 40.33 Table 49: Provided are the va ues of each of the parameters (as described above) normal growth conditions. Growth conditions are measured in soybean accessions (line) under specified in the experimental procedure section.

TABLE 50 Measured parameters in Soybean varieties (lines 7-12) Line/ Correlation ID Line-7 Line-8 Line-9 Line-10 Line-11 Line-12  1 73 72.33 68.67 73.67 68 70.67  2 66.5 65.67 62.33 67.67 61.67 64.33  3 8.456 8.089 8.256 7.733 8.156 7.889  4 48 52 44.17 52.67 56 47.5  5 2.667 2.5 1.833 3.5 3.333 1.5  6 41 38.33 31 39 27.33 32.67  7 11.67 12.11 8 9.111 6.778 10  8 4 4.333 2.111 1.889 3.444 1.222  9 21.33 17.67 20.33 16.11 28.11 16.56 10 11.11 28.22 24.11 36.44 39.67 32.33 11 0 0.556 0 3.889 0 0 12 101.7 98.33 75.83 116.7 76.67 71.67 13 89.78 82.11 70.56 101.7 79.56 67.22 14 1.98 2.712 2.777 2.754 3.7 2.836 15 3.9 0.783 1.183 1.984 1.033 0.832 16 3.5 2.5 2.167 2.333 2.167 2.167 17 88 75 80.67 75.67 76.33 77.33 18 46.88 176.2 143 105.4 184.3 187.3 19 80 126.6 115.1 159 178.7 131.3 20 2.875 3 1.25 2.667 1.778 3 21 8.5 22.78 21.75 10.67 23.78 25.67 22 9 42.11 32.75 25.67 45 44.33 23 0 0.333 0 1.111 0 0 24 18.78 18.89 16.78 21.11 19.33 20.78 25 8.25 25.44 21.88 16.33 22.56 24.22 26 136 302.8 260.5 264.4 363 318.7 27 45.44 83.22 64.33 52 76.89 67 28 4.125 20.11 17 9.222 28.11 22.56 29 9.033 16 15.89 14.56 30.44 18 30 14.25 36.11 32.75 23.78 58.56 40.56 31 7.297 11.38 15.68 10.83 12.98 15.16 32 160.7 196.3 155.3 178.1 204.4 164.2 33 34.23 44.27 53.67 42.47 43.6 52.2 Table 50: Provided are the values of each of the parameters (as described above) measured in soybean accessions (line) under normal growth conditions. Growth conditions are specified in the experimental procedure section.

TABLE 51 Correlation between the expression level of selected genes of some embodiments of the invention in various tissues and the phenotypic performance under normal conditions across soybean varieties Gene P Exp. Corr. Gene P Exp. Corr. Name R value set Set ID Name R value set Set ID WYM110 0.91 1.95E − 03 9 31 WYM110 0.95 2.96E − 04 9 33 WYM84 0.73 1.62E − 02 7 32 WYM84 0.93 9.24E − 05 7  3 WYM84 0.76 1.10E − 02 8 31 WYM84 0.76 1.07E − 02 8 33 WYM84 0.72 4.46E − 02 9 10 WYM84 0.84 8.79E − 03 9 31 WYM84 0.82 1.32E − 02 9 33 WYM84 0.84 9.00E − 03 9 22 WYM84 0.86 6.02E − 03 9 18 WYM84 0.89 3.37E − 03 9 21 WYM84 0.82 1.35E − 02 9 30 WYM84 0.79 2.00E − 02 9 25 WYM84 0.92 1.13E − 03 9 28 WYM84 0.91 1.93E − 03 9 26 WYM84 0.75 4.97E − 03 4  9 WYM85 0.87 5.03E − 03 9 31 WYM85 0.75 3.21E − 02 9 33 WYM85 0.70 5.24E − 02 9 29 WYM85 0.72 8.08E − 03 4  9 WYM85 0.85 4.80E − 04 1 27 WYM85 0.72 8.05E − 03 1 25 WYM85 0.71 1.01E − 02 1  3 WYM86 0.74 1.52E − 02 7 31 WYM86 0.70 2.39E − 02 8 31 WYM86 0.70 2.40E − 02 8 33 WYM86 0.71 4.87E − 02 9 31 WYM86 0.80 1.90E − 03 4 20 WYM87 0.75 1.28E − 02 7 20 WYM87 0.73 1.73E − 02 5 30 WYM87 0.79 2.03E − 02 9 31 WYM87 0.82 1.25E − 02 9 33 Table 51: Correlations (R) between the genes expression levels in various tissues and the phenotypic performance. “Corr. ID”   correlation set ID according to the correlated parameters Table above. “Exp. Set”   Expression set. “R” = Pearson correlation coefficient; “P” = p value.

Example 11 Identification of Genes which can be Used to Increase Yield and Other Agricultural Advantageous Traits

Overall, 99 genes (SEQ ID NOs: 1-219 for polynucleotides and SEQ ID NOs: 220-366 for polypeptides) were identified to have a major impact on plant yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, growth rate, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance, nitrogen use efficiency, water use efficiency and fertilizer use efficiency when expression thereof is increased in plants. The identified genes, their curated polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences, as well as their updated sequences according to GenBank database are summarized in Table 52, herein below.

TABLE 52 Identified genes for increasing yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, oil content, abiotic stress tolerance, nitrogen use efficiency, water use efficiency and fertilizer use efficiency of a plant Polyp. Polyn. SEQ SEQ ID Gene Name Cluster Name Organism ID NO: NO: LAB278_H0 maize|10v1|AW054293 maize 1 220 LNU74_H109 maize|10v1|AI621531 maize 2 221 LYM208 H4 sorghum|09v1|SB01G032070 sorghum 3 222 LYM490_H1 maize|10v1|W21761 maize 4 223 WYM1 barley|10v2|AJ228941 barley 5 224 WYM2 barley|10v2|AJ436276 barley 6 225 WYM3 barley|10v2|AJ460753 barley 7 226 WYM4 barley|10v2|AV833173 barley 8 227 WYM7 barley|10v2|BE194594 barley 9 228 WYM8 barley|10v2|BE195883 barley 10 229 WYM9 barley|10v2|BE214668 barley 11 230 WYM11 barley|10v2|BE412454 barley 12 231 WYM12 barley|10v2|BE420686 barley 13 232 WYM13 barley|10v2|BF623573 barley 14 233 WYM15 barley|10v2|BI946842 barley 15 234 WYM16 barley|10v2|BI947216 barley 16 235 WYM17 barley|10v2|BI947796 barley 17 236 WYM18 barley|10v2|BJ452833 barley 18 237 WYM19 barley|10v2|CB870239 barley 19 238 WYM20 barley|10v2|DN158111 barley 20 239 WYM21 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 21 240 BRADI3G52760 WYM22 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 22 241 DV475781 WYM23 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 23 242 DV476706 WYM24 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 24 243 DV485069 WYM25 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 25 244 GT758373 WYM26 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 26 245 GT759637 WYM27 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 27 246 GT764687 WYM28 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 28 247 GT765082 WYM29 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 29 248 GT770393 WYM30 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 30 249 GT775433 WYM31 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 31 250 GT780903 WYM32 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 32 251 GT784287 WYM33 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 33 252 GT791163 WYM34 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 34 253 GT847927 WYM35 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 35 254 SRR031795S0012454 WYM36 foxtail_millet|10v2| foxtail_millet 36 255 SICRP015958 WYM37 foxtail_millet|10v2| foxtail_millet 37 256 SICRP017191 WYM38 foxtail_millet|11v1|FOXTAIL foxtail_millet 38 257 XMILLETX10V2XFXT RMSLX00055016D1XT1 WYM40 foxtail_millet|11v1|FOXTAIL foxtail_millet 39 258 XMILLETX10V2XFXT RMSLX01384364D1XT1 WYM41 foxtail_millet|11v1|FOXTAIL foxtail_millet 40 259 XMILLETX10V2XFXT SLX00803709D1XT1 WYM42 maize|10v1|AA054812 maize 41 260 WYM43 maize|10v1|AA979730 maize 42 261 WYM44 maize|10v1|AA979748 maize 43 262 WYM46 maize|10v1|AI372300 maize 44 263 WYM47 maize|10v1|AI586615 maize 45 264 WYM48 maize|10v1|AI600444 maize 46 265 WYM51 maize|10v1|AI649490 maize 47 266 WYM52 maize|10v1|AI665357 maize 48 267 WYM55 maize|10v1|AI920337 maize 49 268 WYM56 maize|10v1|AI920394 maize 50 269 WYM57 maize|10v1|AI974918 maize 51 270 WYM58 maize|10v1|AW267325 maize 52 271 WYM59 maize|10v1|AW506641 maize 53 272 WYM60 maize|10v1|BE055910 maize 54 273 WYM61 maize|10v1|BG355067 maize 55 274 WYM62 maize|10v1|BG458626 maize 56 275 WYM63 maize|10v1|BI245239 maize 57 276 WYM64 maize|10v1|BQ621148 maize 58 277 WYM65 maize|10v1|CD948252 maize 59 278 WYM66 maize|10v1|T26937 maize 60 279 WYM67 maize|10v1|T70625 maize 61 280 WYM69 maize|10v1|W59834 maize 62 281 WYM70 rice|gb170|OS03G48080 rice 63 282 WYM71 rice|gb170|OS07G44290 rice 64 283 WYM72 sorghum|09v1|SB01G030550 sorghum 65 284 WYM74 sorghum|09v1|SB02G002690 sorghum 66 285 WYM76 sorghum|09v1|SB03G037080 sorghum 67 286 WYM77 sorghum|09v1|SB04G005000 sorghum 68 287 WYM79 sorghum|09v1|SB06G001610 sorghum 69 288 WYM80 sorghum|09v1|SB06G032750 sorghum 70 289 WYM81 sorghum|09v1|SB09G030000 sorghum 71 290 WYM83 sorghum|09v1|SB10G029670 sorghum 72 291 WYM84 soybean|11v1|CD405767 soybean 73 292 WYM85 soybean|11v1| soybean 74 293 GLYMA02G41040 WYM86 soybean|11v1| soybean 75 294 GLYMA05G25910 WYM87 soybean|11v1| soybean 76 295 GLYMA07G08240 WYM89 wheat|10v2|BE401050 wheat 77 296 WYM90 wheat|10v2|BE401466 wheat 78 297 WYM91 wheat|10v2|BE418556 wheat 79 298 WYM92 wheat|10v2|BE423194 wheat 80 299 WYM93 wheat|10v2|BE497501 wheat 81 300 WYM94 wheat|10v2|BE604122 wheat 82 301 WYM95 wheat|10v2|CA656649 wheat 83 302 WYM96 wheat|10v2|CA660726 wheat 84 303 WYM98 maize|10v1|AI964515 maize 85 304 WYM99 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 86 305 DV472468 WYM100 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 87 306 DV475214 WYM101 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 88 307 GT774209 WYM102 foxtail_millet|10v2| foxtail_millet 89 308 SICRP028266 WYM103 foxtail_millet|11v1|FOXTAIL foxtail_millet 90 309 XMILLETX10V2XFXT RMSLX06595039D1XT1 WYM104 maize|10v1|AI734660 maize 91 310 WYM105 maize|10v1|AW000637 maize 92 311 WYM106 maize|10v1|BG320875 maize 93 312 WYM107 maize|10v1|CF034815 maize 94 313 WYM108 maize|10v1|MZEPPGM maize 95 314 WYM109 rice|gb170|OS08G02210 rice 96 315 WYM110 soybean|11v1| soybean 97 316 GLYMA06G12470 WYM112 wheat|10v2|BE399157 wheat 98 317 WYM113 wheat|10v2|BF474853 wheat 99 318 WYM3 barley|10v2|AJ460753 barley 100 319 WYM7 barley|10v2|BE194594 barley 101 320 WYM12 barley|10v2|BE420686 barley 102 321 WYM17 barley|10v2|BI947796 barley 103 322 WYM18 barley|10v2|BJ452833 barley 104 323 WYM19 barley|10v2|CB870239 barley 105 324 WYM20 barley|10v2|DN158111 barley 106 325 WYM21 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 107 240 BRADI3G52760 WYM26 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 108 245 GT759637 WYM27 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 109 246 GT764687 WYM28 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 110 247 GT765082 WYM29 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 111 248 GT770393 WYM34 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 112 253 GT847927 WYM35 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 113 326 SRR031795S0012454 WYM37 foxtail_millet|10v2| foxtail_millet 114 256 SICRP017191 WYM40 foxtail_millet|11v1|FOXTAIL foxtail_millet 115 258 XMILLETX10V2XFXT RMSLX01384364D1XT1 WYM41 foxtail_millet|11v1|FOXTAIL foxtail_millet 116 259 XMILLETX10V2XFXT SLX00803709D1XT1 WYM56 maize|10v1|AI920394 maize 117 327 WYM85 soybean|11v1| soybean 118 328 GLYMA02G41040 WYM87 soybean|11v1| soybean 119 295 GLYMA07G08240 WYM89 wheat|10v2|BE401050 wheat 120 329 WYM90 wheat|10v2|BE401466 wheat 121 330 WYM102 foxtail_millet|10v2| foxtail_millet 122 331 SICRP028266 WYM104 maize|10v1|AI734660 maize 123 310 WYM106 maize|10v1|BG320875 maize 124 332 LAB278_H0 maize|10v1|AW054293 maize 125 333 LNU74_H109 maize|10v1|AI621531 maize 126 221 LYM208_H4 sorghum|09v1|SB01G032070 sorghum 127 334 LYM490_H1 maize|10v1|W21761 maize 128 335 WYM1 barley|10v2|AJ228941 barley 129 224 WYM2 barley|10v2|AJ436276 barley 130 225 WYM3 barley|10v2|AJ460753 barley 131 336 WYM4 barley|10v2|AV833173 barley 132 337 WYM7 barley|10v2|BE194594 barley 133 338 WYM8 barley|10v2|BE195883 barley 134 229 WYM9 barley|10v2|BE214668 barley 135 339 WYM11 barley|10v2|BE412454 barley 136 231 WYM12 barley|10v2|BE420686 barley 137 340 WYM13 barley|10v2|BF623573 barley 138 233 WYM15 barley|10v2|BI946842 barley 139 234 WYM16 barley|10v2|BI947216 barley 140 235 WYM17 barley|10v2|BI947796 barley 141 341 WYM18 barley|10v2|BJ452833 barley 142 342 WYM20 barley|10v2|DN158111 barley 143 343 WYM21 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 144 240 BRADI3G52760 WYM22 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 145 241 DV475781 WYM23 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 146 344 DV476706 WYM24 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 147 345 DV485069 WYM25 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 148 244 GT758373 WYM26 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 149 245 GT759637 WYM27 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 150 246 GT764687 WYM28 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 151 247 GT765082 WYM29 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 152 248 GT770393 WYM30 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 153 249 GT775433 WYM31 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 154 346 GT780903 WYM32 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 155 251 GT784287 WYM33 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 156 252 GT791163 WYM34 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 157 347 GT847927 WYM35 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 158 348 SRR031795S0012454 WYM36 foxtail_millet|10v2| foxtail_millet 159 255 SICRP015958 WYM37 foxtail_millet|10v2| foxtail_millet 160 256 SICRP017191 WYM38 foxtail_millet|11v1|FOXTAIL foxtail_millet 161 257 XMILLETX10V2XFXT RMSLX00055016D1XT1 WYM40 foxtail_millet|11v1|FOXTAIL foxtail_millet 162 349 XMILLETX10V2XFXT RMSLX01384364D1XT1 WYM42 maize|10v1|AA054812 maize 163 260 WYM43 maize|10v1|AA979730 maize 164 350 WYM44 maize|10v1|AA979748 maize 165 262 WYM46 maize|10v1|AI372300 maize 166 263 WYM47 maize|10v1|AI586615 maize 167 264 WYM48 maize|10v1|AI600444 maize 168 351 WYM51 maize|10v1|AI649490 maize 169 266 WYM52 maize|10v1|AI665357 maize 170 267 WYM55 maize|10v1|AI920337 maize 171 268 WYM56 maize|10v1|AI920394 maize 172 269 WYM57 maize|10v1|AI974918 maize 173 352 WYM58 maize|10v1|AW267325 maize 174 353 WYM59 maize|10v1|AW506641 maize 175 272 WYM60 maize|10v1|BE055910 maize 176 273 WYM61 maize|10v1|BG355067 maize 177 354 WYM62 maize|10v1|BG458626 maize 178 355 WYM63 maize|10v1|BI245239 maize 179 276 WYM64 maize|10v1|BQ621148 maize 180 277 WYM65 maize|10v1|CD948252 maize 181 278 WYM66 maize|10v1|T26937 maize 182 279 WYM67 maize|10v1|T70625 maize 183 280 WYM69 maize|10v1|W59834 maize 184 281 WYM70 rice|gb170|OS03G48080 rice 185 282 WYM71 rice|gb170|OS07G44290 rice 186 283 WYM72 sorghum|09v1|SB01G030550 sorghum 187 356 WYM74 sorghum|09v1|SB02G002690 sorghum 188 285 WYM76 sorghum|09v1|SB03G037080 sorghum 189 286 WYM77 sorghum|09v1|SB04G005000 sorghum 190 357 WYM79 sorghum|09v1|SB06G001610 sorghum 191 288 WYM80 sorghum|09v1|SB06G032750 sorghum 192 358 WYM81 sorghum|09v1|SBO9G030000 sorghum 193 290 WYM83 sorghum|09v1|SB10G029670 sorghum 194 291 WYM84 soybean|11v1|CD405767 soybean 195 292 WYM85 soybean|11v1| soybean 196 293 WYM86 GLYMA02G41040 soybean 197 294 soybean|11v1| WYM87 GLYMA05G25910 soybean 198 359 soybean|11v1| WYM90 GLYMA07G08240 wheat 199 360 wheat|10v2|BE401466 WYM91 wheat|10v2|BE418556 wheat 200 361 WYM92 wheat|10v2|BE423194 wheat 201 299 WYM93 wheat|10v2|BE497501 wheat 202 300 WYM94 wheat|10v2|BE604122 wheat 203 301 WYM95 wheat|10v2|CA656649 wheat 204 362 WYM96 wheat|10v2|CA660726 wheat 205 363 WYM98 maize|10v1|AI964515 maize 206 304 WYM99 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 207 364 DV472468 WYM100 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 208 306 DV475214 WYM101 brachypodium|09v1| brachypodium 209 365 GT774209 WYM103 foxtail_millet|11v1|FOXTAIL foxtail_millet 210 309 XMILLETX10V2XFXT RMSLX06595039D1XT1 WYM104 maize|10v1|AI734660 maize 211 310 WYM105 maize|10v1|AW000637 maize 212 311 WYM106 maize|10v1|BG320875 maize 213 312 WYM107 maize|10v1|CF034815 maize 214 313 WYM108 maize|10v1|MZEPPGM maize 215 314 WYM109 rice|gb170|OS08G02210 rice 216 315 WYM110 soybean|11v1| soybean 217 316 GLYMA06G12470 WYM112 wheat|10v2|BE399157 wheat 218 366 WYM113 wheat|10v2|BF474853 wheat 219 318 LYM90 barley|gb157.3|AV927104_ barley 9688 9701 CT1 LYM91 barley|gb157.3|BE060518_ barley 9689 9702 CT1 LYM320 barley|gb157SOLEXA| barley 9690 9703 BE421502 LYM332 barley|gb157SOLEXA| barley 9691 9704 BI947101 LYM350 maize|gb170|AI612450 maize 9692 9705 LAB259 rice|gb170|OS09G31482 rice 9693 9708 LYM90 barley|gb157.3|AV927104_ barley 9694 9701 T1 LYM90 barley|gb157.3|AV927104_ barley 9695 9701 T1 LYM91 barley|gb157.3|BE060518_ barley 9696 9702 T1 LYM320 barley|gb157SOLEXA| barley 9697 9706 BE421502 LYM332 barley|gb157SOLEXA| barley 9698 9707 BI947101 LYM350 maize|gb170|AI612450 maize 9699 9705 LAB259 rice|gb170|OS09G31482 rice 9700 9708 Table 52: Provided are the identified genes (core genes SEQ ID NOs: 1-99, core polypeptides: SEQ ID NOs: 220-318), their annotation, organism and polynucleotide and polypeptide sequence identifiers. Also provided are the polynucleotides variants SEQ ID NOs: 100-124 and their encoded polypeptides and the cloned polynucleotides SEQ ID NOs: 125-219 and their encoded polypeptides. “polyn.” = polynucleotide; “polyp.” = polypeptide.

Example 12 Identification of Homologous Sequences that Increase Yield, Fiber Yield, Fiber Quality, Growth Rate, Biomass, Oil Content, Vigor, ABST, and/or NUE of a Plant

The concepts of orthology and paralogy have recently been applied to functional characterizations and classifications on the scale of whole-genome comparisons. Orthologs and paralogs constitute two major types of homologs: The first evolved from a common ancestor by specialization, and the latter are related by duplication events. It is assumed that paralogs arising from ancient duplication events are likely to have diverged in function while true orthologs are more likely to retain identical function over evolutionary time.

To further investigate and identify putative orthologs of the genes affecting plant yield, oil yield, oil content, seed yield, growth rate, vigor, biomass, abiotic stress tolerance, and fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) genes and/or nitrogen use efficiency, all sequences were aligned using the BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool). Sequences sufficiently similar were tentatively grouped. These putative orthologs were further organized under a Phylogram—a branching diagram (tree) assumed to be a representation of the evolutionary relationships among the biological taxa. Putative ortholog groups were analyzed as to their agreement with the phylogram and in cases of disagreements these ortholog groups were broken accordingly.

Expression data was analyzed and the EST libraries were classified using a fixed vocabulary of custom terms such as developmental stages (e.g., genes showing similar expression profile through development with up regulation at specific stage, such as at the seed filling stage) and/or plant organ (e.g., genes showing similar expression profile across their organs with up regulation at specific organs such as seed). The annotations from all the ESTs clustered to a gene were analyzed statistically by comparing their frequency in the cluster versus their abundance in the database, allowing the construction of a numeric and graphic expression profile of that gene, which is termed “digital expression”. The rationale of using these two complementary methods with methods of phenotypic association studies of QTLs, SNPs and phenotype expression correlation is based on the assumption that true orthologs are likely to retain identical function over evolutionary time. These methods provide different sets of indications on function similarities between two homologous genes, similarities in the sequence level -identical amino acids in the protein domains and similarity in expression profiles.

The search and identification of homologous genes involves the screening of sequence information available, for example, in public databases such as the DNA Database of Japan (DDBJ), GenBank, and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory Nucleic Acid Sequence Database (EMBL) or versions thereof or the MIPS database. A number of different search algorithms have been developed, including but not limited to the suite of programs referred to as BLAST programs. There are five implementations of BLAST, three designed for nucleotide sequence queries (BLASTN, BLASTX, and TBLASTX) and two designed for protein sequence queries (BLASTP and TBLASTN) (Coulson, Trends in Biotechnology: 76-80, 1994; Birren et al., Genome Analysis, I: 543, 1997). Such methods involve alignment and comparison of sequences. The BLAST algorithm calculates percent sequence identity and performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between the two sequences. The software for performing BLAST analysis is publicly available through the National Centre for Biotechnology Information. Other such software or algorithms are GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA and TFASTA. GAP uses the algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453, 1970) to find the alignment of two complete sequences that maximizes the number of matches and minimizes the number of gaps.

The homologous genes may belong to the same gene family. The analysis of a gene family may be carried out using sequence similarity analysis. To perform this analysis one may use standard programs for multiple alignments e.g. Clustal W. A neighbour-joining tree of the proteins homologous to the genes in this invention may be used to provide an overview of structural and ancestral relationships. Sequence identity may be calculated using an alignment program as described above. It is expected that other plants will carry a similar functional gene (ortholog) or a family of similar genes and those genes will provide the same preferred phenotype as the genes presented here. Advantageously, these family members may be useful in the methods of the invention. Example of other plants are included here but not limited to, barley (Hordeum vulgare), Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), maize (Zea mays), cotton (Gossypium), Oilseed rape (Brassica napus), Rice (Oryza sativa), Sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum), Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), Soybean (Glycine max), Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), Wheat (Triticum aestivum).

The above-mentioned analyses for sequence homology can be carried out on a full-length sequence, but may also be based on a comparison of certain regions such as conserved domains. The identification of such domains, would also be well within the realm of the person skilled in the art and would involve, for example, a computer readable format of the nucleic acids of the present invention, the use of alignment software programs and the use of publicly available information on protein domains, conserved motifs and boxes. This information is available in the PRODOM (Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) biochem (dot) ucl (dot) ac (dot) uk/bsm/dbbrowser/protocol/prodomqry (dot) html), PIR (Hypertext Transfer Protocol://pir (dot) Georgetown (dot) edu/) or Pfam (Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) sanger (dot) ac (dot) uk/Software/Pfam/) database. Sequence analysis programs designed for motif searching may be used for identification of fragments, regions and conserved domains as mentioned above. Preferred computer programs include, but are not limited to, MEME, SIGNALSCAN, and GENESCAN.

A person skilled in the art may use the homologous sequences provided herein to find similar sequences in other species and other organisms. Homologues of a protein encompass peptides, oligopeptides, polypeptides, proteins and enzymes having amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions relative to the unmodified protein in question and having similar biological and functional activity as the unmodified protein from which they are derived. To produce such homologues, amino acids of the protein may be replaced by other amino acids having similar properties (conservative changes, such as similar hydrophobicity, hydrophilicity, antigenicity, propensity to form or break a-helical structures or 3-sheet structures). Conservative substitution tables are well known in the art (see for example Creighton (1984) Proteins. W.H. Freeman and Company). Homologues of a nucleic acid encompass nucleic acids having nucleotide substitutions, deletions and/or insertions relative to the unmodified nucleic acid in question and having similar biological and functional activity as the unmodified nucleic acid from which they are derived.

Polynucleotides and polypeptides with significant homology to the identified genes described in Table 52 (Example 11 above) were identified from the databases using BLAST software with the Blastp and tBlastn algorithms as filters for the first stage, and the needle (EMBOSS package) or Frame+ algorithm alignment for the second stage. Local identity (Blast alignments) was defined with a very permissive cutoff—60% Identity on a span of 60% of the sequences lengths because it is used only as a filter for the global alignment stage. The default filtering of the Blast package was not utilized (by setting the parameter “-F F”).

In the second stage, homologs were defined based on a global identity of at least 80% to the core gene polypeptide sequence.

Two distinct forms for finding the optimal global alignment for protein or nucleotide sequences were used in this application:

1. Between two proteins (following the blastp filter): EMBOSS-6.0.1 Needleman-Wunsch algorithm with the following modified parameters: gapopen=8 gapextend=2. The rest of the parameters were unchanged from the default options described hereinabove.

2. Between a protein sequence and a nucleotide sequence (following the tblastn filter):

GenCore 6.0 OneModel application utilizing the Frame+ algorithm with the following parameters: model=frame+_p2n.model mode=qglobal −q=protein.sequence −db=nucleotide.sequence. The rest of the parameters are unchanged from the default options described hereinabove.

The query polypeptide sequences were SEQ ID NOs: 220-366 and 9701-9708 (which are encoded by the polynucleotides SEQ ID NOs:1-219 and 9688-9693, shown in Table 52 above) and the identified orthologous and homologous sequences having at least 80% global sequence identity are provided in Table 53, below. These homologous genes are expected to increase plant yield, seed yield, oil yield, oil content, growth rate, fiber yield, fiber quality, biomass, vigor, ABST and/or NUE of a plant.

Lengthy table referenced here US20220049264A1-20220217-T00001 Please refer to the end of the specification for access instructions.

The output of the functional genomics approach described herein is a set of genes highly predicted to improve yield and/or other agronomic important traits such as growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield and/or quality, biomass, abiotic stress tolerance, nitrogen use efficiency, water use efficiency and fertilizer use efficiency of a plant by increasing their expression. Although each gene is predicted to have its own impact, modifying the mode of expression of more than one gene is expected to provide an additive or synergistic effect on the plant yield and/or other agronomic important yields performance. Altering the expression of each gene described here alone or set of genes together increases the overall yield and/or other agronomic important traits, hence expects to increase agricultural productivity.

Example 13 Gene Cloning and Generation of Binary Vectors for Plant Expression

To validate their role in improving plant yield, oil content, seed yield, biomass, growth rate, fiber yield, fiber quality, ABST, NUE and/or vigor, selected genes were over-expressed in plants, as follows.

Cloning Strategy

Selected genes from those listed in Examples 1-12 hereinabove were cloned into binary vectors for the generation of transgenic plants. For cloning, the full-length open reading frame (ORF) was first identified. In case of ORF-EST clusters and in some cases already published mRNA sequences were analyzed to identify the entire open reading frame by comparing the results of several translation algorithms to known proteins from other plant species. To clone the full-length cDNAs, reverse transcription (RT) followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR; RT-PCR) was performed on total RNA extracted from leaves, flowers, siliques or other plant tissues, growing under normal and different treated conditions. Total RNA was extracted as described in “GENERAL EXPERIMENTAL AND BIOINFORMATICS METHODS” above. Production of cDNA and PCR amplification was performed using standard protocols described elsewhere (Sambrook J., E. F. Fritsch, and T. Maniatis. 1989. Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual., 2nd Ed. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York), which are well known to those skilled in the art. PCR products were purified using PCR purification kit (Qiagen). In case where the entire coding sequence was not found, RACE kit from Invitrogen (RACE=Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends) was used to access the full cDNA transcript of the gene from the RNA samples described above. RACE products were cloned into high copy vector followed by sequencing or directly sequenced.

The information from the RACE procedure was used for cloning of the full length ORF of the corresponding genes.

In case genomic DNA was cloned, the genes are amplified by direct PCR on genomic DNA extracted from leaf tissue using the DNAeasy kit (Qiagen Cat. No. 69104).

Usually, 2 sets of primers were synthesized for the amplification of each gene from a cDNA or a genomic sequence; an external set of primers and an internal set (nested PCR primers). When needed (e.g., when the first PCR reaction does not result in a satisfactory product for sequencing), an additional primer (or two) of the nested PCR primers is used.

To facilitate cloning of the cDNAs/genomic sequences, an 8-12 bp extension was added to the 5′ of each primer. The primer extension includes an endonuclease restriction site. The restriction sites were selected using two parameters: (a). The site does not exist in the cDNA sequence; and (b). The restriction sites in the forward and reverse primers were designed such that the digested cDNA was inserted in the sense formation into the binary vector utilized for transformation.

PCR products were digested with the restriction endonucleases (New England BioLabs Inc) according to the sites designed in the primers. Each digested PCR product was inserted into a high copy vector pUC19 (New England BioLabs Inc], or into plasmids originating from this vector. In some cases the undigested PCR product was inserted into pCR-Blunt II-TOPO (Invitrogen) or directly into the binary vector.

Sequencing of the amplified PCR products was performed, using ABI 377 sequencer (Amersham Biosciences Inc). In some cases, after confirming the sequences of the cloned genes, the cloned cDNA was introduced into a modified pGI binary vector containing the At6669 promoter via digestion with appropriate restriction endonucleases. The digested products and the linearized plasmid vector were ligated using T4 DNA ligase enzyme (Roche, Switzerland).

High copy plasmids containing the cloned genes were digested with the restriction endonucleases (New England BioLabs Inc) according to the sites designed in the primers and cloned into binary vectors.

Several DNA sequences of the selected genes were synthesized by a commercial supplier GeneArt [Hypertext Transfer Protocol://World Wide Web (dot) geneart (dot) com/]. Synthetic DNA was designed in silico. Suitable restriction enzymes sites were added to the cloned sequences at the 5′ end and at the 3′ end to enable later cloning into the pQFNc or other required binary vector downstream of the At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO: 9405).

Binary vectors used for cloning: The plasmid pPI was constructed by inserting a synthetic poly-(A) signal sequence, originating from pGL3 basic plasmid vector (Promega, Acc No U47295; bp 4658-4811) into the HindIII restriction site of the binary vector pBI101.3 (Clontech, Acc. No. U12640). pGI (pBXYN) was similar to pPI, but the original gene in the backbone, the GUS gene, was replaced by the GUS-Intron gene followed by the NOS terminator (SEQ ID NO: 9419) (Vancanneyt. G, et al MGG 220, 245-50, 1990). pGI was used in the past to clone the polynucleotide sequences, initially under the control of 35S promoter [Odell, J T, et al. Nature 313, 810-812 (28 Feb. 1985); SEQ ID NO:9403].

The modified pGI vectors [pQXNc (FIG. 8); or pQFN (FIG. 2), pQFNc (FIG. 2) or pQYN_6669 (FIG. 1)] were modified versions of the pGI vector in which the cassette was inverted between the left and right borders so the gene and its corresponding promoter were close to the right border and the NPTII gene was close to the left border.

At6669, the Arabidopsis thaliana promoter sequence (SEQ ID NO: 9405) was inserted in the modified pGI binary vector, upstream to the cloned genes, followed by DNA ligation and binary plasmid extraction from positive E. coli colonies, as described above.

Colonies were analyzed by PCR using the primers covering the insert which are designed to span the introduced promoter and gene. Positive plasmids were identified, isolated and sequenced.

Selected genes cloned by the present inventors are provided in Table 54 below.

TABLE 54 Genes cloned in high copy number plasmids Gene Name High copy plasmid Organism Primers used SEQ ID NOs: Polyn. SEQ ID NO: Polyp. SEQ ID NO: LAB259 pKSJ_LAB259 rice 9700 9708 LYM320 pUC19c_LYM320 barley 9697 9706 LYM332 pUC19c_LYM332 barley 9698 9707 LYM350_GA pMA-RQ_LYM350_GA GeneArt 9699 9705 LYM90 pGXN_LYM90 barley 9695 9701 LYM91 pGXN_LYM91 barley 9696 9702 WYM113 pMA-RQ_WYM113_GA GeneArt 219 318 WYM112 pUC19c_WYM112 wheat 9649, 9434, 9434, 9434 218 366 WYMI09 pUC19c_WYM109 rice 9514, 9432, 9432, 9432 216 315 WYM108 pUC19c_WYM108 maize 9513, 9431, 9431, 9431 215 314 WYM107 pUC19c_WYM107 maize 9648, 9592, 9592, 9592 214 313 WYM106 pUC19_WYM106 maize 9647, 9591, 9591, 9591 213 312 WYM105 pUC19c_WYM105 maize 9510, 9428, 9428, 9428 212 311 WYM104 pUC19c_WYM104 maize 9646, 9590, 9590, 9590 211 310 WYM103 pUC19c_WYM103 foxtail_millet 9645, 9589, 9589, 9589 210 309 WYM101 pUC19c_WYM101 brachypodium 9644, 9588, 9588, 9588 209 365 WYM100 pQFNc_WYM100 brachypodium 9643, 9587, 9587, 9587 208 306 WYM99 pUC19c_WYM99 brachypodium 9583, 9640, 9640, 9640 207 364 WYM98 pUC19_WYM98 maize 9687, 9639, 9639, 9639 206 304 WYM96 pUC19c_WYM96 wheat 9581, 9638, 9638, 9638 205 363 WYM95 pUC19d_WYM95 wheat 9580, 9637, 9637, 9637 204 362 WYM94 pUC19c_WYM94 wheat 9686, 9636, 9636, 9636 203 301 WYM93 pUC19c_WYM93 wheat 9578, 9635, 9635, 9635 202 300 WYM92 pUC19c_WYM92 wheat 9685, 9634, 9634, 9634 201 299 WYM91 pUC19c_WYM91 wheat 9684, 9633, 9633, 9633 200 361 WYM90 pUC19c_WYM90 wheat 9575, 9493, 9493, 9493 199 360 WYM87 pUC19c_WYM87 soybean 9573, 9491, 9491, 9491 198 359 WYM86 pUC19c_WYM86 soybean 9572, 9490, 9490, 9490 197 294 WYM85 pUC19c_WYM85 soybean 9682, 9632, 9632, 9632 196 293 WYM84 pUC19c_WYM84 soybean 9681, 9631, 9631, 9631 195 292 WYM83 pUC19c_WYM83 sorghum 9569, 9487, 9487, 9487 194 291 WYM81 pUC19c_WYM81 sorghum 9568, 9486, 9486, 9486 193 290 WYM80 pUC19c_WYM80 sorghum 9680, 9630, 9630, 9630 192 358 WYM79 pUC19c_WYM79 sorghum 9679, 9629, 9629, 9629 191 288 WYM77 pUC19c_WYM77 sorghum 9678, 9628, 9628, 9628 190 357 WYM76 pUC19_WYM76 sorghum 9564, 9627, 9627, 9627 189 286 WYM74 pUC19c_WYM74 sorghum 9677, 9626, 9626, 9626 188 285 WYM72 pQFNc_WYM72 sorghum 9676, 9625, 9625, 9625 187 356 WYM71 pUC19c_WYM71 rice 9562, 9480, 9480, 9480 186 283 WYM70 pQFNc_WYM70 rice 9675, 9624, 9624, 9624 185 282 WYM69 pUC19c_WYM69 maize 9560, 9478, 9478, 9478 184 281 WYM67 pUC19c_WYM67 maize 9674, 9477, 9477, 9477 183 280 WYM66 pUC19c_WYM66 maize 9673, 9622, 9622, 9622 182 279 WYM65 pUC19c_WYM65 maize 9672, 9621, 9621, 9621 181 278 WYM64 pMA-RQ_WYM64_GA 180 277 WYM63 pUC19c_WYM63 maize 9671, 9620, 9620, 9620 179 276 WYM62 pUC19c_WYM62 maize 9556, 9474, 9474, 9474 178 355 WYM61 pUC19c_WYM61 maize 9670, 9619, 9619, 9619 177 354 WYM60 pQFNc_WYM60 maize 9669, 9618, 9618, 9618 176 273 WYM59 pUC19c_WYM59 maize 9668, 9617, 9617, 9617 175 272 WYM58 pUC19c_WYM58 maize 9667, 9616, 9616, 9616 174 353 WYM57 pUC19c_WYM57 maize 9666, 9615, 9615, 9615 173 352 WYM56 pMA-RQ_WYM56_GA 172 269 WYM55 pUC19c_WYM55 maize 9665, 9614, 9614, 9614 171 268 WYM52 pUC19c_WYM52 maize 9549, 9613, 9613, 9613 170 267 WYM51 pUC19c_WYM51 maize 9548, 9466, 9466, 9466 169 266 WYM48 pUC19c_WYM48 maize 9547, 9465, 9465, 9465 168 351 WYM47 pUC19c_WYM47 maize 9664, 9612, 9612, 9612 167 264 WYM46 pUC19c_WYM46 maize 9663, 9463, 9463, 9463 166 263 WYM44 pUC19c_WYM44 maize 9662, 9611, 9611, 9611 165 262 WYM43 pUC19c_WYM43 maize 9544, 9610, 9610, 9610 164 350 WYM42 pUC19c_WYM42 maize 9661, 9609, 9609, 9609 163 260 WYM40 TopoB_WYM40 foxtail_millet 9542, 9460, 9460, 9460 162 349 WYM38 pUC19c_WYM38 foxtail_millet 9540, 9608, 9608, 9608 161 257 WYM37 pUC19c_WYM37 foxtail_millet 9660, 9607, 9607, 9607 160 256 WYM36 pUC19c_WYM36 foxtail_millet 9659, 9606, 9606, 9606 159 255 WYM35 pUC19c_WYM35 brachypodium 9658, 9605, 9605, 9605 158 348 WYM34 pQFNc_WYM34 brachypodium 9657, 9604, 9604, 9604 157 347 WYM33 pUC19c_WYM33 brachypodium 9535, 9453, 9453, 9453 156 252 WYM32 pUC19d_WYM32 brachypodium 9534, 9603, 9603, 9603 155 251 WYM31 pUC19c_WYM31 brachypodium 9656, 9602, 9602, 9602 154 346 WYM30 pUC19c_WYM30 brachypodium 9655, 9601, 9601, 9601 153 249 WYM29 pUC19c_WYM29 brachypodium 9530, 9448, 9448, 9448 152 248 WYM28 pUC19c_WYM28 brachypodium 9529, 9600, 9600, 9600 151 247 WYM27 pUC19c_WYM27 brachypodium 9528, 9446, 9446, 9446 150 246 WYM26 pUC19c_WYM26 brachypodium 9527, 9599, 9599, 9599 149 245 WYM25 pUC19c_WYM25 brachypodium 9526, 91111, 9444, 9444 148 244 WYM24 pUC19c_WYM24 brachypodium 9525, 9443, 9443, 9443 147 345 WYM23 pUC19c_WYM23 brachypodium 9654, 9598, 9598, 9598 146 344 WYM22 pUC19c_WYM22 brachypodium 9524, 9597, 9597, 9597 145 241 WYM21 pUC19d_WYM21 brachypodium 9653, 9441, 9441, 9441 144 240 WYM20 pQFNc_WYM20 barley 9522, 9440, 9440, 9440 143 343 WYM18 pUC19c_WYM18 barley 9521,9439, 9439, 9439 142 342 WYM17 pUC19c_WYM17 barley 9520, 9595, 9595, 9595 141 341 WYM16 pQFNc_WYM16 barley 9651, 9594, 9594, 9594 140 235 WYM15 pUC19c_WYM15 barley 9518, 9436, 9436, 9436 139 234 WYM13 pUC19c_WYM13 barley 9650, 9593, 9593, 9593 138 233 WYM12 pUC19c_WYM12 barley 9517, 9435, 9435, 9435 137 340 WYM11 pUC19c_WYM11 barley 9515, 9433, 9433, 9433 136 231 WYM9 pUC19c_WYM9 barley 9683, 9492, 9492, 9492 135 339 WYM8 pQFNc_WYM8 barley 9566, 9484, 9484, 9484 134 229 WYM7 pUC19_WYM7 barley 9561, 9623, 9623, 9623 133 338 WYM4 pUC19c_WYM4 barley 9541, 9459, 9459, 9459 132 337 WYM3 pUC19c_WYM3 barley 9531, 9449, 9449, 9449 131 336 WYM2 pUC19c_WYM2 barley 9652, 9596, 9596, 9596 130 225 WYM1 pUC19c_WYM1 barley 9505, 9586, 9586, 9586 129 224 WYM110 pMA-T_WYM110_GA 217 316 LYM490_H1 pUC19c_LYM490H1 maize 9504, 9422, 9422, 9422 128 335 LYM208_H4 pUC19c_LYM208H4 sorghum 9642, 9585, 9585, 9585 127 334 LNU74_H109 pUC19c_LNU74H109 maize 9641, 9584, 9584, 9584 126 221 LAB278_H0 pUC19_LAB278H0 maize 9502, 9420, 9420, 9420 125 333 Table 54. “Polyn.”—Polynucleotide; “Polyp.”—polypeptide. For cloning of each gene at least 2 primers were used: Forward (Fwd) or Reverse (Rev). In some cases, 4 primers were used: External forward (EF), External reverse (ER), nested forward (NF) or nested reverse (NR). The sequences of the primers used for cloning the genes are provided in the sequence listing. The genes were cloned from the same organism as identified in the list of genes provided in Table 52 above, except for the genes that were synthetically produced by GeneArt.

Example 14 Transforming Agrobacterium tumefaciens Cells with Binary Vectors Harboring Putative Genes

Each of the binary vectors described in Example 13 above were used to transform Agrobacterium cells. An additional binary construct was used as negative control containing empty vector carrying At6669 promoter and the selection marker.

For transformation in Arabidopsis plants, the binary vectors were introduced to Agrobacterium tumefaciens GV301, GV303 or LB4404 competent cells (about 10⁹ cells/mL) by electroporation.

For transformation into Brachypodium, the binary vectors were introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens AGL1.

The electroporation was performed using a MicroPulser electroporator (Biorad), 0.2 cm cuvettes (Biorad) and EC-2 electroporation program (Biorad). The treated cells were cultured in LB liquid medium at 28° C. for 3 hours, then plated over LB agar supplemented with gentamycin (50 mg/L; for Agrobacterium strains GV301) or streptomycin (300 mg/L; for Agrobacterium strain LB4404) and kanamycin (50 mg/L) at 28° C. for 48 hours. Agrobacterium colonies, which were developed on the selective media, were analyzed by PCR using the primers which were designed to span the inserted sequence in the pPI plasmid. The resulting PCR products were isolated and sequenced as described in Example 13 above, to verify that the correct nucleotide sequences were properly introduced to the Agrobacterium cells.

Example 15 Producing Transgenic Arabidopsis Plants Expressing Selected Genes According to Some Embodiments of the Invention

Materials and Experimental Methods

Plant transformation—The Arabidopsis thaliana var Columbia (To plants) were transformed according to the Floral Dip procedure [Clough S J, Bent A F. (1998) Floral dip: a simplified method for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant J. 16(6): 735-43; and Desfeux C, Clough S J, Bent A F. (2000) Female reproductive tissues are the primary targets of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation by the Arabidopsis floral-dip method. Plant Physiol. 123(3): 895-904] with minor modifications. Briefly, Arabidopsis thaliana Columbia (Col0) To plants were sown in 250 ml pots filled with wet peat-based growth mix. The pots were covered with aluminum foil and a plastic dome, kept at 4° C. for 3-4 days, then uncovered and incubated in a growth chamber at 18-24° C. under 16/8 hours light/dark cycles. The To plants were ready for transformation six days before anthesis.

Single colonies of Agrobacterium carrying the binary vectors harboring the yield genes were cultured in LB medium supplemented with kanamycin (50 mg/L) and gentamycin (50 mg/L). The cultures were incubated at 28° C. for 48 hours under vigorous shaking and centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 5 minutes. The pellets comprising Agrobacterium cells were resuspended in a transformation medium which contained half-strength (2.15 g/L) Murashige-Skoog (Duchefa); 0.044 μM benzylamino purine (Sigma); 112 μg/L B5 Gambourg vitamins (Sigma); 5% sucrose; and 0.2 ml/L Silwet L-77 (OSI Specialists, CT) in double-distilled water, at pH of 5.7.

Transformation of To plants was performed by inverting each plant into an Agrobacterium suspension such that the above ground plant tissue was submerged for 3-5 seconds. Each inoculated To plant was immediately placed in a plastic tray, then covered with clear plastic dome to maintain humidity and was kept in the dark at room temperature for 18 hours to facilitate infection and transformation. Transformed (transgenic) plants were then uncovered and transferred to a greenhouse for recovery and maturation. The transgenic To plants were grown in the greenhouse for 3-5 weeks until siliques were brown and dry, then seeds were harvested from plants and kept at room temperature until sowing.

For generating T₁ and T₂ transgenic plants harboring the genes, seeds collected from transgenic To plants were surface-sterilized by soaking in 70% ethanol for 1 minute, followed by soaking in 5% sodium hypochlorite and 0.05% triton for 5 minutes. The surface-sterilized seeds were thoroughly washed in sterile distilled water then placed on culture plates containing half-strength Murashig-Skoog (Duchefa); 2% sucrose; 0.8% plant agar; 50 mM kanamycin; and 200 mM carbenicylin (Duchefa). The culture plates were incubated at 4° C. for 48 hours then transferred to a growth room at 25° C. for an additional week of incubation. Vital T₁ Arabidopsis plants were transferred to a fresh culture plates for another week of incubation. Following incubation the T₁ plants were removed from culture plates and planted in growth mix contained in 250 ml pots. The transgenic plants were allowed to grow in a greenhouse to maturity. Seeds harvested from T₁ plants were cultured and grown to maturity as T₂ plants under the same conditions as used for culturing and growing the T₁ plants.

Example 16 Transformation of Brachypodium distachyon Plants with the Polynucleotides of the Invention

Similar to the Arabidopsis model plant, Brachypodium distachyon has several features that recommend it as a model plant for functional genomic studies, especially in the grasses. Traits that make it an ideal model include its small genome (˜355 Mbp), small physical stature, a short lifecycle, and few growth requirements. Brachypodium is related to the major cereal grain species but is understood to be more closely related to the Triticeae (wheat, barley) than to the other cereals. Brachypodium, with its polyploidy accessions, can serve as an ideal model for these grains (whose genomics size and complexity is a major barrier to biotechnological improvement).

Brachypodium distachyon embryogenic calli were transformed using the procedure described by Vogel and Hill (2008) (High-efficiency Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Brachypodium distachyon inbred line Bd21-3. Plant Cell Rep 27:471-478) and by Vain et al (2008) (Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the temperate grass Brachypodium distachyon (genotypeBd21) for T-DNA insertional mutagenesis. Plant Biotechnology J 6: 236-245), each of which is fully incorporated herein by reference, with some minor modifications.

Briefly, compact embryogenic calli were derived from immature embryos of Brachypodium distachyon accession Bd21-3, an inbred diploid line. Appropriate immature bell-shaped embryos and of size -0.3 mm, were plated onto CIM medium +2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.5 mg/l, SIGMA, Catalogue number: D7299)+CuSO₄.5H₂O (0.6 mg/l, Sigma, Catalogue number: C3036). One liter (1 L) of CIM medium was prepared by adding the following components to a final volume of 1 liter water (H₂O): LS+vitamins 4.4 grams (Duchefa, Catalogue number: L0230); Sucrose 30 grams (Duchefa, Catalogue number: S0809); Phytagel 2 grams (SIGMA, Catalogue number: P8169). After two weeks in culture, the embryogenic calli were fragmented into 4 to 6 pieces each, and plated on the same CIM medium with 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and CuSO₄.5H₂O. Two weeks later, the calli were fragmented and plated again (no more than 25 calli per plate). By 4 weeks in culture the calli were ready for infection with Agrobacterium.

Single colonies of Agrobacterium carrying the binary vectors harboring the yield genes were cultured over a plate of MGL medium containing 50 mg/i (milligrams per liter) kanamicin, 50 mg/l carbenicillin and acetosyringone 200 μM (micromolar) final. One liter (1 L) of MGL medium was prepared by adding the following components to a final volume of 1 liter water (H₂O): Yeast extract 2.5 grams (HIMEDIA, Catalogue number: RM027), Triptone 5 grams (Duchefa, Catalogue number: T1332), NaCl 5 grams (BioLab, Catalogue number: 19030591), MgSO₄x7H₂O 204 milligrams (SIGMA, Catalogue number: M1880), D-Manitol 5 grams (Duchefa, Catalogue number: D0803), KH₂PO₄ 250 milligrams (Duchefa, Catalogue number: P0574), Glutamic Acid 1.2 grams (Duchefa, Catalogue number: G0707). After 24 hours at 28° C. the Agrobacterium layer which was scraped from plate was resuspended into 40 ml of MS medium (containing acetosyringone 200 μM), and placed on a shaker at 220 rpm for 45 minutes in a 28° C. incubator. Then, the Agrobacterium suspension was diluted to O.D. 1.0 with MS medium. Ten ml of the diluted Agrobacterium suspension were dispensed onto each of plates containing the embryonic calli and incubated for 5 minutes inoculation in a laminar flow hood at room temp. Then, the suspension was completely removed from the plates, calli pieces were handpicked onto a filter in a dry Petri dish, where they were dried by desiccation for several minutes. The blotted calli were then plated (25 pieces per plate) onto a filter wetted with 750 μl of MS medium, where they were co-cultivation with the Agrobacterium for 2 days at 25° C. in the dark.

Selection of transformed calli was done on plates containing 30 ml of CIM medium+2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic (2.5 mg/l) CuSO₄.5H₂O (0.6 mg/l)+Ticarcillin disodium (400 mg/i)+Hygromycin Sulfate (40 mg/1) medium, that were cultured for 2 weeks in the dark. The surviving calli were then transferred to fresh medium where they were cultured for additional 2 weeks. Four weeks after transformation, the calli were transferred onto Shoot Induction Medium (SIM) medium (Linsmaier and Skoog Physiol. Plantarum, 18:100, 1965, which is fully incorporated herein by reference)+6-Benzylaminopurin riboside (1 mg/l)+IAA (0.25 mg/l)+CuSO₄ (0.6 mg/l)+ascorbic acid (20 mg/l)+Tic (200 mg/1)+HM (40 mg/l), where shoots of To plants start to regenerate during 2 weeks at 25° C. under a 16 hour light/8 hour dark photoperiod. Regenerated shoots were transferred to maturation medium consist of Nitsch [Nitsch salts and vitamins 2.18 g/l+sucrose 15 g/l pH 5.8+phytagel 0.2%]+α-Naphthalene Acetic Acid (2 mg/1)+Indole-3-Acetic Acid (1 mg/i) medium, where they regenerate roots in 2 to 3 weeks.

Regenerated transgenic To plants were grown in the greenhouse for -3 months until seed maturation and spikelet drying. Seeds were harvested from plants and kept at 10° C. until sowing. For the generation of T₁ and T₂ transgenic plants that harbor the transformed genes, surface-sterilized seeds were collected from transgenic To plants and placed in trays with sowing mix containing 0.3 ml/L BASTA selection with 60 mg/L DL-Phoshpinothricin active ingredient. The sowing trays were incubated at 4° C. for 72 hours and then transferred to a growth room at 25° C. for an additional 10-12 days of incubation. Vital T₁ Brachypodium plants were transferred to growth mix in validation plots that were placed in the greenhouse, where they grow up to maturity. Seeds harvested from T₁ plants were germinated and grown to maturity as T₂ plants under the same conditions as described for T₁ plants.

Example 17 Transformation of Triticum aestivum L Plants with the Polynucleotides of the Invention

Triticum aestivum embryogenic calli were transformed using the procedure described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,238,862, which is fully incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Briefly, immature embryos of wheat cv Bobwhite were isolated from the immature caryopsis (wheat spikelets) 12-15 days after pollination, and cultured on M7 medium for 4-6 days. The embryos without embryogenic callus were selected for Agrobacterium inoculation.

Agrobacterium is grown on solid medium at 28° C. for 3 days and then at 23° C. for 1 day. The Agrobacterium was then directly collected on the solid medium, diluted with 1/10 CM4C medium [MS basal salts with vitamins, sucrose, agar and supplemented with specific growth regulators; provided by BIOWORLD, Dublin, Ohio 43017, USA, Catalogue No. 30630121-1 (759995)] and used for inoculation. Explants were incubated with the washed and resuspended Agrobacterium cell suspension. The inoculation was generally performed at a temperature of 24° C.-26° C., from about 1 minute to about 3 hours. After the inoculation period, the inoculated immature embryos were placed in plates with filter paper Whatman No. 1 wetted with 200 μl sterile water 20-50 embryos X4/plate. Plates were parafilmed and incubated in the dark, 24-26° C. for 2-3 days. After such 3-day co-cultivation, the Agrobacterium-infected precultured immature embryos (PCIE) and embryogenic calli were transferred to CM4C medium supplemented with 500 mg/L carbenicillin and cultured for about seven days for selection and plant regeneration. This “delay” medium can also contain glyphosate (0.02 mM). The infected precultured immature embryos explants formed embryogenic callus on this medium.

The explants were then transferred to CM4C selection medium with 2 mM glyphosate and 500 mg/L carbenicillin for one week in the dark. All the calli were transferred to MMS0.2C medium (1×MS salts and Vitamins, 1.95 g/L MES, 0.2 mg/L 2,4-D, and 40 g/L maltose, pH 5.6, solidified by 2 g/L Gelrite; after autoclaving, adding 100 mg/L ascorbic acid) supplemented with 0.1 mM glyphosate and 250 mg/L carbenicillin (first regeneration medium) for an additional two weeks of selection with lighting conditions of about 80 μE. Green spots or shoots formed at the end of this culture period. All the embryogenic calli were transferred to the second regeneration medium MMSOC supplemented with 500 mg/L carbenicillin and 0.02 mM glyphosate. These tissues were transferred to fresh media every two weeks. Plantlets with elongated meristems and roots can be regenerated from embryogenic callus tissue any time during the culture period. Once the root system was established, the plants were transferred to soil and subsequently assayed. All the plants originating from the same infected precultured immature embryo or callus were considered as siblings from the same transgenic event.

Example 18 Evaluation of Transgenic Arabidopsis for Seed Yield and Plant Growth Rate Under Normal Conditions in Greenhouse Assays (GH-SM Assays)

Assay 1: Seed yield plant biomass and plant growth rate under normal greenhouse conditions—This assay follows seed yield production, the biomass formation and the rosette area growth of plants grown in the greenhouse at non-limiting nitrogen growth conditions. Transgenic Arabidopsis seeds were sown in agar media supplemented with ½ MS medium and a selection agent (Kanamycin). The T₂ transgenic seedlings were then transplanted to 1.7 trays filled with peat and perlite in a 1:1 ratio. The trays were irrigated with a solution containing 6 mM inorganic nitrogen in the form of KNO₃ with 1 mM KH₂PO₄, 1 mM MgSO₄, 2 mM CaCl₂) and microelements. All plants were grown in the greenhouse until mature seeds. Seeds were harvested, extracted and weighted. The remaining plant biomass (the above ground tissue) was also harvested, and weighted immediately or following drying in oven at 50° C. for 24 hours.

Each construct was validated at its T₂ generation. Transgenic plants transformed with a construct conformed by an empty vector carrying the At6669 promoter and the selection marker were used as control.

The plants were analyzed for their overall size, growth rate, flowering, seed yield, 1,000-seed weight, dry matter and harvest index (HI—seed yield/dry matter). Transgenic plants performance was compared to control plants grown in parallel under the same conditions. Mock-transgenic plants expressing the uidA reporter gene (GUS-Intron) or with no gene at all, under the same promoter were used as control.

The experiment was planned in nested randomized plot distribution. For each gene of the invention three to five independent transformation events were analyzed from each construct.

Digital imaging—A laboratory image acquisition system, which consists of a digital reflex camera (Canon EOS 300D) attached with a 55 mm focal length lens (Canon EF-S series), mounted on a reproduction device (Kaiser RS), which includes 4 light units (4×150 Watts light bulb) was used for capturing images of plant samples.

The image capturing process was repeated every 2 days starting from day 1 after transplanting till day 15. Same camera, placed in a custom made iron mount, was used for capturing images of larger plants sawn in white tubs in an environmental controlled greenhouse. The tubs were square shape include 1.7 liter trays. During the capture process, the tubs were placed beneath the iron mount, while avoiding direct sun light and casting of shadows.

An image analysis system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P43.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program—ImageJ 1.39 [Java based image processing program which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and freely available on the internet at Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/]. Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888×2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Leaf analysis—Using the digital analysis leaves data was and is calculated, including leaf number, rosette area, rosette diameter, and leaf blade area.

Vegetative growth rate: the (GR) of leaf number [Formula VI (described above)], rosette area (Formula XIX below), plot coverage (Formula XX below) and harvest index (Formula IV above) was calculated with the indicated formulas.

Growth rate of rosette area=Regression coefficient of rosette area along time course.  Formula XIX:

GR plot coverage

Growth rate of plot coverage=Regression coefficient of plot coverage along time course.  Formula XX:

Growth rate (GR) rosette diameter−Regression coefficient of rosette diameter along time course.  Formula XXIV:

Seeds average weight—At the end of the experiment all seeds were collected. The seeds are scattered on a glass tray and a picture was taken. Using the digital analysis, the number of seeds in each sample was calculated.

Dry weight and seed yield—On about day 80 from sowing, the plants were harvested and left to dry at 30° C. in a drying chamber. The biomass and seed weight of each plot were measured and divided by the number of plants in each plot.

Dry weight=total weight of the vegetative portion above ground (excluding roots) after drying at 30° C. in a drying chamber;

Seed yield per plant=total seed weight per plant (gr.).

1000 seed weight (the weight of 1000 seeds) (gr.).

Oil percentage in seeds—At the end of the experiment all seeds from each plot were collected. Seeds from 3 plots were mixed grounded and then mounted onto the extraction chamber. 210 ml of n-Hexane (Cat No. 080951 Biolab Ltd.) were used as the solvent. The extraction was performed for 30 hours at medium heat 50° C. Once the extraction has ended the n-Hexane is evaporated using the evaporator at 35° C. and vacuum conditions. The process was repeated twice. The information gained from the Soxhlet extractor (Soxhlet, F. Die gewichtsanalytische Bestimmung des Milchfettes, Polytechnisches J. (Dingler's) 1879, 232, 461) was used to create a calibration curve for the Low Resonance NMR. The content of oil of all seed samples was determined using the Low Resonance NMR (MARAN Ultra-Oxford Instrument) and its MultiQuant software package.

Silique length analysis—On day 50 from sowing, 30 siliques from different plants in each plot were sampled in block A. The chosen siliques were green-yellow in color and were collected from the bottom parts of a grown plant's stem. A digital photograph was taken to determine silique's length.

Statistical analyses—To identify outperforming genes and constructs, results from the independent transformation events tested were analyzed separately. Data was analyzed using Student's t-test and results were considered significant if the p value was less than 0.1. The JMP statistics software package was used (Version 5.2.1, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, N.C., USA).

Experimental Results:

Tables 55-59 summarize the observed phenotypes of transgenic plants expressing the genes constructs using the GH-SM Assays.

The genes listed in Tables 55-59 improved plant performance when grown at normal conditions. These genes produced larger plants with a larger photosynthetic area, leaf number, biomass (dry weight, rosette diameter, rosette area and plot coverage, leaf blade area), growth rate (e.g., of leaf number, plot coverage and rosette diameter), blade relative area, yield (e.g., harvest index, seed yield, 1000 seed weight), as well as inflorescence emergence. The genes were cloned under the regulation of a constitutive At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO:9405). The evaluation of each gene was performed by testing the performance of different number of events. Event with p-value <0.1 was considered statistically significant.

TABLE 55 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter Inflorescence Dry Weight [mg] Flowering [days] Emergence [days] P- % P- % P- % Gene Name Event # Ave. Val. Incr. Ave. Val. Incr. Ave. Val. Incr. WYM7 71168.1 — — — 22.6 0.03 −4 15.5 0.20 −3 WYM17 71315.1 — — — 23.1 0.20 −2 — — — WYM52 71463.1 709.9 0.12 9 22.9 0.08 −3 — — — WYM106 71687.6 677.1 0.25 4 — — — — — — WYM110 71443.5 — — — 23.1 0.21 −2 — — — WYM52 71461.2 — — — 22.5 0.02 −5 15.6 0.23 −3 WYM77 70947.1 707.5 0.09 8 — — — — — — WYM106 71685.3 697.5 0.13 7 23.1 0.19 −2 — — — CONT. — 652.2 — — 23.6 — — 16.0 — — WYM47 69683.5 724.6 0.23 3 22.2 L −5 — — — WYM80 69995.1 736.0 0.17 5 23.1 0.24 −1 — — — WYM80 69994.1 — — — 22.8 0.08 −2 — — — WYM77 70947.4 728.5 0.18 4 — — — 15.4 0.21 0 WYM80 69995.4 — — — 22.7 0.06 −3 — — — CONT. — 703.6 — — 23.4 — — 15.5 — — WYM26 71627.6 774.2 0.03 11 — — — — — — WYM110 71443.1 730.6 0.20 5 — — — — — — WYM77 70949.3 747.0 0.16 7 — — — — — — WYM77 70947.2 — — — 21.4 L −7 15.3 0.19 −1 WYM95 70178.4 — — — 22.6 0.24 −1 — — — WYM17 71314.3 741.6 0.10 7 22.5 0.15 −2 — — — CONT. — 695.5 — — 22.9 — — 15.4 — — WYM17 71315.2 780.9 0.16 8 21.9 0.17 −3 — — — WYM95 70180.2 786.8 0.11 9 — — — — — — WYM7 71169.7 — — — 22.0 0.21 −2 — — — WYM7 71170.1 — — — 22.1 0.23 −2 — — — WYM95 70181.2 — — — 21.9 0.20 −3 15.3 0.29 −1 CONT. — 721.4 — — 22.5 — — 15.4 — — WYM80 69993.2 723.3 0.03 16 — — — 15.5 0.20 −2 WYM95 70182.3 655.4 0.17 5 21.5 0.02 −5 15.5 0.20 −2 WYM17 71313.9 687.1 0.08 10 — — — 15.4 0.15 −2 WYM95 70182.5 710.0 0.02 14 21.9 0.07 −3 15.5 0.20 −2 WYM47 69685.5 675.4 0.09 8 21.9 0.07 −3 15.5 0.20 −2 WYM17 71316.2 — — — 21.4 0.03 −5 15.3 0.12 −3 WYM95 70178.1 685.8 0.05 10 21.9 0.10 −3 15.5 0.20 −2 CONT. — 625.0 — — 22.6 — — 15.8 — — WYM106 71684.4 690.0 0.13 7 — — — — — — WYM110 71442.5 739.5 0.03 14 21.1 L −7 15.3 0.05 −1 WYM47 69681.4 — — — 21.7 0.06 −4 15.3 0.16 −1 WYM47 69685.3 677.4 0.20 5 21.6 0.02 −5 15.5 0.20 0 WYM26 71627.4 694.8 0.09 7 — — — — — — WYM26 71626.6 699.2 0.08 8 — — — — — — WYM110 71445.5 684.1 0.20 6 — — — — — — WYM106 71687.1 697.5 0.08 8 — — — 15.5 0.20 0 CONT. — 647.8 — — 22.7 — — 15.6 — — WYM52 71463.4 — — — 22.6 0.02 −5 15.6 0.11 −5 WYM110 71445.6 — — — 22.8 0.06 −4 15.8 0.17 −4 WYM44 71321.3 704.2 0.28 3 22.8 0.04 −4 — — — WYM77 70948.2 — — — 23.0 0.10 −3 — — — WYM26 71623.2 749.0 0.07 9 23.3 0.26 −2 — — — WYM80 69994.2 738.4 0.21 8 22.5 0.02 −5 15.5 0.10 −6 WYM110 71443.6 720.3 0.23 5 23.1 0.11 −3 15.7 0.13 −5 WYM17 71313.6 — — — 23.1 0.12 −2 15.5 0.10 −6 CONT. — 685.7 — — 23.7 — — 16.4 — — WYM95 70181.1 — — — 23.1 0.03 −4 — — — WYM47 69685.1 712.9 0.03 7 22.6 L −6 — — — WYM95 70183.2 747.7 0.03 12 23.0 0.03 −4 — — — WYM47 69683.3 683.9 0.12 2 22.4 L −7 — — — WYM95 70181.3 — — — 22.6 L −6 — — — WYM80 69994.4 738.4 L 10 23.0 0.02 −5 — — — WYM26 71622.3 777.9 0.03 16 23.5 0.23 −2 — — — WYM77 70949.1 703.4 0.19 5 23.6 0.12 −2 — — — CONT. — 669.3 — — 24.1 — — 15.4 — — WYM52 71465.5 820.0 0.24 3 22.0 0.04 −3 15.4 0.21 0 WYM44 71317.1 — — — 22.5 0.15 −1 — — — CONT. — 794.2 — — 22.8 — — 15.5 — — WYM7 71169.2 932.5 0.04 22 21.3 L −6 15.4 0.19 −1 WYM52 71461.6 806.4 0.21 5 22.3 0.22 −1 — — — WYM17 71313.4 — — — 22.3 0.23 −1 — — — WYM95 70181.6 840.0 0.15 10 — — — — — — CONT. — 766.1 — — 22.6 — — 15.4 — — WYM17 71315.4 — — — 22.1 0.22 −2 — — — CONT. — 809.5 — — 22.4 — — 15.4 — — WYM44 71322.4 — — — — — — 15.4 0.12 −1 WYM110 71444.4 — — — 21.3 0.06 −2 — — — WYM7 71170.5 — — — — — — 15.4 0.23 −1 WYM7 71170.3 — — — 21.5 0.18 −1 — — — WYM106 71685.6 — — — — — — 15.4 0.12 −1 WYM52 71463.6 812.5 0.14 7 21.0 0.13 −4 14.7 0.14 −5 WYM17 71314.4 812.0 0.11 7 21.6 0.27 −1 15.5 0.20 0 CONT. — 762.2 — — 21.8 — — 15.6 — — WYM52 71461.5 — — — 21.5 0.18 −3 15.2 0.06 −4 WYM106 71687.3 — — — 21.8 0.22 −2 15.6 0.26 −1 WYM52 71465.2 — — — 21.5 0.13 −3 15.4 0.15 −2 WYM7 71170.2 — — — 21.9 0.28 −2 15.4 0.12 −3 WYM110 71445.1 792.1 0.05 7 21.3 0.10 −4 15.3 0.09 −3 WYM52 71465.4 767.3 0.19 3 21.7 0.19 −3 15.5 0.20 −2 WYM44 71321.5 774.6 0.19 4 20.7 0.03 −7 15.4 0.15 −2 WYM44 71317.8 — — — 21.7 0.21 −2 15.5 0.20 −2 CONT. — 741.5 — — 22.2 — — 15.8 — — WYM44 71322.6 — — — 22.4 0.10 −3 — — — WYM26 71626.4 871.9 0.08 11 22.8 0.25 −2 — — — WYM47 69684.3 — — — 21.9 0.03 −5 — — — WYM110 71445.2 — — — 22.6 0.14 −2 — — — CONT. — 782.8 — — 23.1 — — 15.4 — — WYM92 70001.1 — — — 19.6 0.11 −4 — — — WYM60 69869.3 577.4 0.19 8 20.2 0.28 −2 15.3 0.07 −4 WYM63 69984.3 — — — 19.8 0.16 −3 15.4 0.17 −4 CONT. — 535.4 — — 20.5 — — 16.0 — — WYM37 70944.7 — — — 19.8 0.16 −2 — — — WYM57 69512.7 — — — 19.9 0.05 −2 — — — WYM37 70942.4 — — — 20.1 0.19 −1 — — — WYM27 69935.2 — — — 19.7 0.12 −3 — — — WYM58 69959.3 — — — 20.0 0.13 −2 — — — WYM63 69984.2 — — — 19.2 0.07 −5 — — — WYM60 69870.2 — — — 19.9 0.24 −2 — — — CONT. — 544.7 — — 20.3 — — 15.1 — — WYM63 69982.4 — — — 17.8 L −10 14.1 0.14 −1 WYM27 69936.2 — — — 18.5 0.01 −6 14.1 0.20 −1 WYM51 69954.2 — — — 18.9 0.02 −4 14.0 0.09 −2 WYM92 70003.1 553.8 0.22 5 19.0 0.18 −3 — — — LYM90 69389.5 — — — 18.1 L −8 14.1 0.20 −1 WYM60 69870.8 — — — 19.2 0.10 −2 — — — WYM51 69950.5 — — — 18.0 L −9 14.0 0.09 −2 WYM27 69937.5 — — — 19.4 0.23 −2 — — — CONT. — 529.7 — — 19.7 — — 14.3 — — WYM60 69869.2 — — — 19.9 0.14 −3 — — — WYM58 69960.2 674.2 0.30 4 19.9 0.13 −3 — — — WYM51 69950.1 — — — 19.6 0.07 −5 14.9 0.12 −8 WYM92 70000.5 — — — 19.6 0.14 −4 15.2 0.11 −7 WYM58 69961.10 — — — 20.1 0.19 −2 15.5 0.13 −5 WYM63 69983.2 — — — 20.0 0.17 −3 — — — WYM63 69980.3 — — — — — — 15.5 0.22 −5 CONT. — 650.7 — — 20.6 — — 16.3 — — WYM92 69998.2 — — — — — — 15.9 0.20 −3 LYM90 69389.1 618.8 0.26 3 — — — — — — WYM63 69982.1 625.2 0.12 4 19.3 0.02 −7 14.9 0.02 −9 WYM37 70942.3 615.4 0.25 2 — — — — — — WYM63 69984.6 — — — 20.0 L −4 15.7 0.01 −4 WYM51 69953.4 — — — 20.4 0.17 −2 — — — WYM60 69868.3 — — — 20.1 L −4 15.8 0.08 −3 WYM66 70175.3 — — — 20.1 L −4 16.2 0.26 −1 CONT. — 600.7 — — 20.9 — — 16.3 — — WYM37 70942.6 670.1 0.06 13 20.2 0.08 −2 — — — WYM57 69514.2 666.7 0.05 12 18.1 L −12 14.0 L −13 WYM66 70176.2 656.3 0.05 10 19.7 0.07 −4 14.5 0.04 −10 WYM92 70000.3 633.4 0.12 7 18.8 L −9 14.6 0.04 −10 WYM60 69867.2 730.0 L 23 — — — — — — WYM60 69870.3 — — — 19.3 0.06 −6 14.7 0.04 −9 WYM33 69938.11 — — — 20.0 0.11 −3 — — — CONT. — 594.1 — — 20.6 — — 16.2 — — WYM57 69517.1 680.8 0.04 15 20.2 0.12 −2 14.5 0.04 −11 WYM60 69868.5 643.0 0.02 9 — — — 16.1 0.15 −1 WYM58 69961.9 641.8 0.13 9 20.3 0.12 −1 15.2 0.13 −6 WYM27 69935.9 615.4 0.17 4 20.2 0.08 −2 15.8 0.10 −3 WYM66 70174.4 — — — — — — 15.3 0.14 −6 WYM33 69942.2 640.4 0.12 8 — — — 15.6 L −4 WYM33 69942.1 678.4 0.02 15 20.2 0.08 −2 14.4 L −12 WYM57 69515.4 618.0 0.23 5 18.5 L −10 14.0 L −14 CONT. — 591.1 — — 20.6 — — 16.3 — — WYM57 69514.3 667.9 0.19 6 19.7 0.06 −4 15.6 0.20 −4 WYM57 69513.3 696.7 0.06 10 19.3 0.04 −6 14.4 L −11 LYM90 69388.2 677.9 0.21 7 — — — 15.4 0.09 −5 WYM60 69867.3 675.9 0.12 7 20.1 0.12 −2 15.3 0.11 −6 WYM37 70939.4 — — — 20.3 0.24 −1 — — — CONT. — 632.2 — — 20.5 — — 16.2 — — WYM37 70942.5 669.2 L 9 — — — — — — WYM33 69938.6 685.2 0.02 12 — — — — — — WYM58 69959.5 635.0 0.23 3 — — — — — — WYM58 69960.7 627.9 0.21 2 19.3 L −6 14.9 0.12 −6 WYM57 69515.1 — — — 20.4 0.20 −1 — — — WYM27 69935.4 654.1 0.12 7 20.3 0.09 −1 — — — CONT. — 614.1 — — 20.5 — — 15.9 — — WYM66 70174.3 — — — 19.6 0.02 −4 — — — WYM33 69943.2 — — — — — — 15.2 0.05 −4 LYM90 69388.5 661.3 0.13 10 20.3 0.29 −1 15.0 L −5 WYM58 69960.3 — — — 19.7 0.08 −3 — — — CONT. — 601.2 — — 20.4 — — 15.8 — — WYM33 69938.7 — — — 20.2 0.04 −2 — — — WYM92 69999.2 — — — 20.3 0.13 −2 — — — LYM90 69389.3 578.3 0.27 3 — — — — — — CONT. — 563.8 — — 20.7 — — 15.5 — — LYM90 69386.2 — — — 19.7 L −3 15.0 0.21 −3 LYM90 69386.3 — — — 20.0 0.23 −2 14.7 0.15 −5 WYM27 69936.1 — — — 19.1 0.06 −6 14.7 0.19 −5 LYM90 69388.4 — — — 19.8 0.04 −3 14.6 0.13 −6 WYM33 69939.1 — — — 20.2 0.25 −1 14.9 0.24 −4 WYM66 70175.4 613.4 0.16 4 19.2 0.06 −6 14.0 0.03 −9 CONT. — 589.0 — — 20.4 — — 15.5 — — WYM60 69870.5 631.3 0.03 4 19.3 0.01 −6 14.1 0.14 −3 WYM51 69954.4 — — — 19.3 0.02 −6 14.1 0.14 −3 WYM66 70176.1 — — — 20.2 0.12 −2 — — — WYM58 69961.3 — — — 20.0 0.08 −3 14.0 0.10 −4 WYM58 69960.1 — — — 20.3 0.27 −1 — — — CONT. — 609.6 — — 20.5 — — 14.6 — — WYM58 69961.7 — — — 19.1 0.13 −3 — — — WYM92 70000.4 — — — 18.4 L −7 — — — WYM51 69954.7 — — — 17.8 L −10 14.0 0.08 −7 WYM57 69513.2 — — — 18.2 0.02 −8 14.0 0.08 −7 WYM66 70175.2 — — — 18.8 0.02 −5 14.0 0.08 −7 WYM66 70173.1 — — — 18.4 0.01 −7 — — — CONT. — 609.2 — — 19.7 — — 15.0 — — WYM108 69633.1 764.7 0.02 18 — — — — — — WYM4 69736.6 679.4 0.13 5 — — — — — — WYM13 69646.1 716.7 0.01 11 18.4 0.02 −11 — — — WYM98 70008.2 666.3 0.14 3 20.1 0.13 −3 — — — LNU74_H109 69484.1 698.2 0.03 8 19.3 L −7 — — — WYM13 69647.3 691.3 0.02 7 — — — — — — WYM99 70020.4 686.3 0.12 6 20.3 0.29 −2 — — — CONT. — 648.5 — — 20.8 — — 15.0 — — WYM108 69635.1 — — — — — — 15.0 0.20 0 WYM84 69860.1 678.0 0.17 7 20.0 0.18 −2 15.0 0.20 0 WYM11 69639.7 683.8 0.18 8 — — — — — — WYM101 69715.3 680.0 0.18 8 — — — 15.0 0.20 0 WYM11 69642.2 681.3 0.16 8 — — — 15.0 0.20 0 WYM84 69865.2 — — — 19.7 0.08 −4 15.0 0.20 0 LNU74_H109 69485.3 760.0 0.02 20 — — — 15.0 0.20 0 WYM11 69639.9 670.0 0.22 6 19.8 0.11 −3 15.0 0.20 0 CONT. — 632.5 — — 20.4 — — 15.0 — — WYM99 70020.3 — — — 20.6 0.07 −5 — — — WYM99 70016.3 — — — 20.5 0.12 −5 — — — WYM109 69717.3 — — — 20.1 0.07 −7 — — — WYM108 69634.1 — — — 20.4 0.06 −5 — — — WYM84 69864.5 — — — 21.0 0.17 −3 — — — CONT. — 700.0 — — 21.6 — — 15.0 — — WYM98 70009.1 — — — 20.2 0.14 −2 — — — WYM4 69737.3 — — — 20.3 0.26 −1 — — — WYM99 70016.10 771.6 0.15 7 — — — — — — CONT. — 722.2 — — 20.6 — — 15.0 — — WYM109 69720.7 781.7 0.06 11 20.8 0.16 −3 — — — LNU74_H109 69485.1 — — — 20.2 0.02 −6 — — — WYM11 69640.1 — — — 20.7 0.10 −3 — — — CONT. — 701.5 — — 21.4 — — 15.0 — — WYM4 69734.2 — — — 19.9 0.05 −4 — — — WYM4 69736.3 — — — 20.0 0.05 −4 — — — WYM100 69872.5 771.7 0.22 5 20.0 0.06 −3 — — — WYM13 69646.2 — — — 20.2 0.20 −3 — — — WYM13 69645.2 760.9 0.28 4 19.7 0.02 −5 — — — WYM99 70016.8 — — — 19.4 L −6 — — — WYM109 69716.3 — — — 20.3 0.20 −2 — — — WYM109 69720.6 — — — 19.8 0.03 −5 — — — CONT. — 734.7 — — 20.7 — — 15.0 — — WYM109 69716.1 — — — 19.9 0.02 −5 — — — WYM4 69735.3 — — — 19.8 0.01 −6 — — — WYM101 69710.2 704.2 0.12 12 20.2 0.07 −4 — — — LNU74_H109 69483.3 704.6 L 12 19.5 0.07 −7 — — — WYM108 69636.5 — — — 20.1 0.03 −4 — — — WYM101 69712.2 — — — 20.5 0.21 −2 — — — WYM4 69736.1 — — — 20.0 0.03 −5 — — — WYM98 70008.3 — — — 19.5 L −7 — — — CONT. — 626.6 — — 21.0 — — 15.0 — — WYM11 69641.1 — — — 20.3 0.08 −3 — — — WYM98 70009.3 — — — 19.6 0.02 −6 — — — WYM13 69647.7 728.3 0.27 4 — — — — — — CONT. — 700.1 — — 21.0 — — 15.0 — — WYM13 69647.9 693.4 0.22 4 20.3 0.18 −3 — — — WYM13 69644.2 — — — 20.4 0.19 −3 — — — WYM98 70008.1 — — — 20.0 0.04 −5 — — — WYM101 69715.5 732.5 0.06 10 19.8 0.02 −6 — — — WYM98 70005.3 — — — 19.9 0.03 −5 — — — CONT. — 663.8 — — 21.0 — — 15.0 — — WYM11 69641.2 — — — 21.0 0.11 −3 — — — WYM98 70005.2 — — — 20.3 0.02 −6 — — — LNU74_H109 69483.4 732.5 0.26 4 19.9 L −8 — — — CONT. — 707.6 — — 21.6 — — 15.0 — — LNU74_H109 69482.1 703.8 0.16 3 — — — — — — LNU74_H109 69482.2 — — — 21.2 0.15 −2 — — — WYM98 70008.4 — — — 21.0 0.16 −3 — — — CONT. — 682.5 — — 21.7 — — 15.0 — — WYM100 69876.2 712.1 0.13 4 — — — — — — WYM13 69645.5 — — — 20.9 0.22 −2 — — — WYM13 69647.1 732.5 0.03 7 21.0 0.22 −1 — — — CONT. — 681.7 — — 21.3 — — 15.0 — — WYM99 70016.9 726.4 0.27 5 21.3 0.07 −2 — — — WYM13 69647.4 — — — 20.0 0.05 −8 — — — WYM109 69719.2 — — — 21.0 0.14 −3 — — — WYM101 69715.2 — — — 21.4 0.19 −1 — — — WYM11 69638.1 — — — 21.0 0.02 −3 — — — WYM99 70016.2 — — — 21.3 0.17 −1 — — — WYM84 69864.1 — — — 21.3 0.15 −2 — — — CONT. — 692.9 — — 21.7 — — 15.0 — — WYM99 70017.4 — — — 19.6 0.03 −6 — — — WYM108 69633.3 — — — 20.6 0.28 −1 — — — CONT. — 717.5 — — 20.9 — — 15.0 — — Table 55. “CONT”—Control; “Ave.”—Average; “% Incr.” = % increment; “p-val.”—p-value, L- p < 0.01.

TABLE 56 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter Leaf Blade Area [cm²] Leaf Number P- % Ave. P- % Gene Name Event # Ave. Val. Incr. Val. Incr. WYM7 71168.1 1.2 0.06 13 11.3 0.03 7 WYM17 71315.1 1.2 0.02 10 10.7 0.24 2 WYM106 71687.6 1.1 0.15 6 11.2 0.02 6 WYM52 71461.2 1.1 0.06 8 — — — WYM77 70947.1 1.1 0.24 5 — — — WYM106 71685.3 1.2 0.02 17 11.0 0.04 5 CONT. — 1.1 — — 10.5 — — WYM47 69683.5 1.1 0.04 11 — — — CONT. — 1.0 — — 10.3 — — WYM26 71627.6 1.0 0.29 4 — — — CONT. — 1.0 — — 10.3 — — WYM17 71315.2 — — — 11.6 L 4 WYM7 71169.7 — — — 11.5 0.11 3 WYM77 70946.7 — — — 11.4 0.16 2 WYM7 71170.1 — — — 11.4 0.28 3 WYM95 70181.2 1.5 0.29 6 — — — CONT. — 1.4 — — 11.1 — — WYM95 70178.1 — — — 10.2 0.26 1 CONT. — 1.0 — — 10.1 — — WYM106 71684.4 1.0 0.21 6 — — — WYM110 71442.5 1.1 0.03 24 11.1 0.03 15 WYM47 69681.4 1.0 0.12 13 10.0 0.12 4 WYM26 71627.4 1.0 0.27 7 — — — WYM26 71626.6 1.0 0.27 6 9.8 0.25 2 WYM110 71445.5 1.0 0.15 8 — — — WYM106 71687.1 1.0 0.14 8 — — — CONT. — 0.9 — — 9.6 — — WYM52 71463.4 1.2 0.05 21 10.8 0.17 6 WYM110 71445.6 1.2 0.09 14 11.3 L 10 WYM44 71321.3 1.3 0.03 25 10.8 L 6 WYM77 70948.2 1.2 0.07 20 11.2 0.06 10 WYM26 71623.2 1.3 0.02 25 11.0 L 8 WYM80 69994.2 1.3 0.01 32 11.3 L 11 WYM110 71443.6 1.2 0.08 16 10.7 0.18 5 WYM17 71313.6 1.2 0.09 15 10.8 L 6 CONT. — 1.0 — — 10.2 — — WYM47 69685.1 1.1 0.23 7 10.3 0.28 3 WYM95 70183.2 — — — 10.2 0.24 2 WYM47 69683.3 1.1 0.28 4 10.3 0.25 4 WYM95 70181.3 — — — 10.2 0.21 3 WYM80 69994.4 1.1 0.16 9 10.8 L 9 WYM26 71622.3 — — — 10.5 0.13 6 CONT. — 1.0 — — 9.9 — — WYM26 71626.1 1.3 0.27 4 11.2 0.14 4 WYM52 71465.5 1.3 0.11 8 11.3 0.12 5 CONT. — 1.2 — — 10.8 — — WYM7 71169.2 1.3 0.10 13 11.4 0.22 3 CONT. — 1.2 — — 11.1 — — WYM26 71626.2 — — — 10.8 0.19 3 WYM77 70948.5 — — — 11.0 0.13 5 WYM17 71315.4 1.2 0.23 7 10.7 0.24 2 CONT. — 1.1 — — 10.5 — — WYM7 71170.3 1.2 0.16 11 10.8 0.20 2 WYM106 71685.6 1.2 0.30 6 — — — WYM52 71463.6 1.3 0.19 13 — — — CONT. — 1.1 — — 10.6 — — WYM52 71461.5 1.1 0.18 10 10.4 0.26 4 WYM106 71687.3 1.2 0.02 17 11.2 0.01 11 WYM52 71465.2 1.1 0.18 6 11.2 0.03 11 WYM7 71170.2 1.1 0.29 8 — — — WYM110 71445.1 1.2 0.02 20 10.7 0.05 6 WYM52 71465.4 1.2 0.07 11 10.7 0.06 6 WYM44 71321.5 1.4 L 32 11.0 0.02 9 WYM44 71317.8 1.1 0.12 11 10.5 0.17 4 CONT. — 1.0 — — 10.1 — — WYM44 71322.6 1.3 0.28 6 — — — WYM26 71626.4 1.3 0.08 11 11.3 0.11 7 WYM47 69684.3 1.3 0.09 12 11.4 0.03 8 CONT. — 1.2 — — 10.6 — — WYM92 70001.1 1.3 0.15 11 — — — WYM63 69983.1 — — — 10.3 0.08 2 WYM60 69869.3 1.2 0.26 7 10.2 0.18 1 WYM63 69982.7 — — — 10.3 0.08 2 CONT. — 1.1 — — 10.1 — — WYM37 70944.7 1.3 0.11 12 10.6 0.01 7 WYM57 69512.7 1.2 0.14 9 10.5 0.06 5 WYM37 70942.4 1.3 0.04 16 10.9 0.02 10 WYM27 69935.2 1.3 0.12 10 10.3 0.13 4 WYM58 69959.3 1.2 0.26 5 10.5 0.22 6 WYM63 69984.2 1.2 0.16 8 10.6 0.20 6 WYM60 69870.2 — — — 10.3 0.05 4 CONT. — 1.1 — — 9.9 — — WYM63 69982.4 1.5 L 35 10.6 0.17 5 WYM27 69936.2 1.3 L 12 11.3 L 11 WYM51 69954.2 1.3 0.07 14 10.9 0.01 7 WYM92 70003.1 1.4 L 18 10.6 0.14 5 LYM90 69389.5 1.3 L 16 11.0 L 9 WYM60 69870.8 1.4 L 25 — — — WYM51 69950.5 1.3 0.08 9 10.7 0.21 5 WYM27 69937.5 1.3 0.04 9 10.8 0.02 6 CONT. — 1.2 — — 10.1 — — WYM51 69950.1 1.3 0.09 13 11.4 0.08 7 CONT. — 1.2 — — 10.7 — — WYM92 69998.2 1.1 0.20 6 10.4 0.03 5 WYM63 69982.1 1.3 L 18 10.9 0.04 10 WYM37 70942.3 1.1 0.24 6 — — — WYM63 69984.6 — — — 10.2 0.20 3 WYM60 69868.3 1.2 0.06 8 10.7 L 8 WYM66 70175.3 1.2 0.23 8 10.3 0.06 4 CONT. — 1.1 — — 9.9 — — WYM37 70942.6 1.6 0.04 26 11.3 0.02 7 WYM57 69514.2 1.8 L 44 10.9 0.26 2 WYM66 70176.2 1.6 0.02 24 11.2 0.05 5 WYM92 70000.3 1.7 0.01 35 11.1 0.05 4 WYM60 69867.2 1.8 L 38 11.6 0.02 9 WYM60 69870.3 1.5 0.09 19 11.5 0.07 8 WYM33 69938.11 — — — 10.9 0.27 2 WYM66 70174.1 1.5 0.07 16 11.1 0.22 4 CONT. — 1.3 — — 10.6 — — WYM57 69517.1 1.6 L 28 10.9 0.27 3 WYM60 69868.5 1.6 L 26 11.1 0.16 5 WYM58 69961.9 1.5 0.05 18 11.4 0.15 7 WYM27 69935.9 1.5 0.04 19 11.1 0.11 5 WYM66 70174.4 1.6 0.03 27 11.2 0.05 6 WYM33 69942.2 1.5 L 17 — — — WYM33 69942.1 1.6 0.05 21 11.8 L 12 WYM57 69515.4 1.8 L 41 10.9 0.29 3 CONT. — 1.3 — — 10.6 — — WYM57 69514.3 1.3 0.12 17 — — — WYM57 69513.3 1.3 0.03 20 — — — LYM90 69388.2 1.4 0.03 26 — — — WYM51 69954.1 1.2 0.27 5 — — — WYM60 69867.3 1.3 0.05 18 — — — WYM27 69937.1 1.2 0.25 8 — — — LYM90 69389.6 1.2 0.27 5 — — — CONT. — 1.1 — — 10.8 — — WYM37 70942.5 1.5 0.03 18 11.2 L 8 WYM58 69960.7 1.5 0.06 17 11.0 L 6 WYM57 69515.1 1.3 0.24 6 10.6 0.04 3 WYM27 69935.4 — — — 10.6 0.15 2 CONT. — 1.3 — — 10.3 — — WYM92 70000.9 — — — 10.8 0.06 4 WYM66 70174.3 1.4 0.26 6 — — — WYM33 69943.2 — — — 10.8 0.13 4 LYM90 69388.5 1.6 0.04 18 11.0 0.17 6 WYM51 69950.3 1.4 0.28 5 11.0 0.06 6 CONT. — 1.3 — — 10.4 — — WYM66 70177.7 — — — 10.8 0.10 5 CONT. — 1.2 — — 10.3 — — LYM90 69386.3 1.5 0.06 18 — — — LYM90 69388.4 1.4 0.13 11 11.3 0.28 1 WYM66 70175.4 1.4 0.26 9 — — — CONT. — 1.3 — — 11.1 — — WYM92 70003.2 — — — 11.2 0.08 5 WYM60 69870.5 1.5 0.10 11 — — — LYM90 69390.2 — — — 10.9 0.25 3 WYM58 69961.3 1.4 0.22 6 11.0 0.22 4 CONT. — 1.4 — — 10.6 — — WYM51 69953.5 — — — 10.4 0.21 2 WYM58 69961.7 1.2 0.22 9 10.8 0.11 5 WYM92 70000.4 1.2 0.19 8 — — — WYM51 69954.7 1.2 0.25 5 11.3 L 11 WYM57 69513.2 1.2 0.13 8 — — — WYM37 70944.2 1.2 0.22 7 — — — WYM66 70175.2 1.2 0.20 6 11.1 0.03 8 WYM66 70173.1 1.3 0.07 15 11.2 0.09 9 CONT. — 1.1 — — 10.3 — — WYM108 69633.1 1.0 0.05 5 9.6 0.29 3 WYM4 69736.6 — — — 9.6 0.19 3 WYM13 69646.1 1.2 L 25 10.1 0.05 9 WYM98 70008.2 1.1 0.01 11 9.8 0.06 5 LNU74_H109 69484.1 1.0 0.04 7 9.7 0.09 4 WYM99 70020.4 1.0 0.17 7 9.6 0.23 3 CONT. — 1.0 — — 9.3 — — WYM108 69635.1 1.1 0.08 10 — — — WYM84 69860.1 1.2 0.02 15 10.0 0.18 5 WYM101 69715.3 1.0 0.21 4 — — — WYM11 69642.2 1.1 0.08 11 — — — WYM84 69865.2 1.2 0.04 17 9.8 0.25 3 LNU74_H109 69485.3 1.1 0.07 8 — — — WYM11 69639.9 1.3 L 31 10.3 0.07 8 CONT. — 1.0 — — 9.5 — — WYM99 70020.3 1.0 0.02 14 9.5 0.20 2 WYM99 70016.3 1.0 L 13 9.8 0.03 5 WYM11 69640.3 1.0 0.29 4 9.5 0.27 2 WYM101 69712.3 1.0 0.05 7 9.5 0.18 2 WYM109 69717.3 1.1 0.05 19 9.8 0.03 5 WYM84 69862.1 — — — 9.7 0.05 4 WYM108 69634.1 1.0 L 11 9.7 0.08 4 WYM84 69864.5 1.0 L 10 — — — CONT. — 0.9 — — 9.3 — — WYM11 69641.3 1.4 0.23 6 — — — WYM98 70009.1 — — — 10.8 L 15 WYM4 69737.3 — — — 9.8 0.17 5 LNU74_H109 69487.1 — — — 10.5 0.09 12 WYM100 69873.2 1.4 0.29 6 10.3 0.03 10 WYM101 69713.5 — — — 9.6 0.29 3 WYM109 69720.8 — — — 10.2 0.04 9 WYM99 70016.10 — — — 10.3 0.02 10 CONT. — 1.3 — — 9.3 — — WYM109 69720.7 — — — 10.0 0.04 5 WYM101 69715.8 1.3 0.05 16 — — — WYM108 69632.1 1.3 0.07 24 9.9 0.09 4 WYM108 69636.6 1.2 L 15 — — — WYM4 69737.8 1.2 0.09 14 — — — WYM11 69640.1 1.3 L 23 — — — CONT. — 1.1 — — 9.5 — — WYM4 69736.3 1.3 0.20 8 — — — WYM100 69872.5 1.4 0.01 19 10.8 0.06 5 WYM13 69645.2 1.5 L 25 10.4 0.26 1 WYM99 70016.8 1.3 0.07 11 10.9 0.02 6 CONT. — 1.2 — — 10.3 — — WYM109 69716.1 — — — 10.6 0.08 7 WYM101 69710.2 1.3 0.03 10 — — — LNU74_H109 69483.3 1.4 L 15 10.6 0.07 7 WYM108 69636.5 1.3 0.22 10 10.2 0.27 3 WYM101 69712.2 1.3 0.09 6 10.3 0.20 4 WYM98 70008.3 1.3 0.16 11 — — — CONT. — 1.2 — — 9.9 — — WYM109 69716.4 1.2 0.26 6 — — — WYM11 69640.7 1.2 0.19 5 — — — WYM11 69641.1 1.2 0.03 12 — — — WYM99 70017.5 1.3 L 21 — — — WYM98 70009.3 1.3 0.02 14 — — — CONT. — 1.1 — — 9.8 — — WYM98 70008.1 1.2 0.16 6 9.9 0.27 5 WYM101 69715.5 1.2 0.10 7 10.3 0.15 9 WYM84 69864.2 — — — 9.7 0.19 3 WYM98 70005.3 — — — 10.1 0.04 8 CONT. — 1.1 — — 9.4 — — WYM100 69874.1 — — — 9.3 0.10 3 WYM11 69641.2 — — — 9.3 0.10 3 WYM98 70005.2 — — — 9.5 0.11 4 WYM98 70009.6 — — — 9.2 0.26 2 LNU74_H109 69483.4 1.2 0.09 15 9.4 0.10 4 CONT. — 1.1 — — 9.1 — — WYM4 69739.2 1.0 0.08 10 9.3 0.25 3 LNU74_H109 69482.1 1.0 0.03 17 9.4 0.17 4 LNU74_H109 69482.2 0.9 0.22 5 — — — WYM108 69635.3 0.9 0.26 5 — — — WYM100 69874.5 1.0 0.12 10 — — — WYM98 70008.4 — — — 9.4 0.18 3 WYM99 70020.1 1.0 0.04 13 — — — CONT. — 0.9 — — 9.1 — — WYM101 69714.1 — — — 9.4 0.27 3 WYM13 69647.1 1.1 0.14 2 — — — CONT. — 1.0 — — 9.1 — — WYM99 70016.9 1.1 0.25 7 — — — WYM13 69647.4 1.2 0.03 12 — — — WYM109 69719.2 1.2 L 16 9.8 0.28 4 WYM101 69715.2 1.1 0.12 8 — — — WYM11 69638.1 1.2 0.10 13 — — — WYM84 69864.1 1.2 0.08 15 10.0 0.22 5 CONT. — 1.0 — — 9.5 — — LNU74_H109 69483.5 1.1 0.20 7 — — — WYM99 70017.4 1.2 0.07 20 — — — WYM108 69635.2 — — — 9.7 0.10 2 WYM109 69718.2 1.1 0.20 8 — — — CONT. — 1.0 — — 9.5 — — Table 56. “CONT”-Control; “Ave.”-Average; “% Incr.” = % increment; “p-val.”-p-value, L-p <0.01.

TABLE 57 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter GR Of Rosette Diameter [cm/day] P- % Gene Name Event # Ave. Val. Incr. WYM7 71168.1 0.5 0.06 13 WYM17 71315.1 0.5 0.19 7 WYM106 71687.6 0.5 0.05 10 WYM110 71443.5 0.5 0.21 6 WYM52 71461.2 0.5 0.12 8 WYM106 71685.3 0.5 L 18 CONT. — 0.5 — — WYM47 69683.5 0.5 0.23 8 WYM7 71172.5 0.5 0.26 8 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM26 71627.6 0.5 0.27 12 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM110 71442.5 0.5 0.05 19 WYM47 69681.4 0.4 0.27 11 WYM110 71445.5 0.5 0.19 12 WYM106 71687.1 0.4 0.17 11 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM44 71321.3 0.6 0.07 15 WYM77 70948.2 0.5 0.23 11 WYM26 71623.2 0.5 0.13 12 WYM80 69994.2 0.6 0.04 17 CONT. — 0.5 — — WYM47 69683.3 0.5 0.26 12 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM7 71169.2 0.6 0.19 12 CONT. — 0.5 — — WYM52 71461.5 0.5 0.16 13 WYM106 71687.3 0.5 0.08 15 WYM52 71465.2 0.5 0.17 12 WYM110 71445.1 0.5 0.20 11 WYM44 71321.5 0.6 L 26 WYM44 71317.8 0.5 0.17 12 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM44 71322.6 0.5 0.29 9 WYM26 71626.4 0.5 0.29 8 CONT. — 0.5 — — WYM92 70001.1 0.5 0.19 12 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM37 70944.7 0.4 0.13 9 WYM57 69512.7 0.4 0.25 8 WYM37 70942.4 0.5 0.08 12 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM63 69982.4 0.5 L 22 WYM27 69936.2 0.5 0.08 10 WYM92 70003.1 0.5 0.06 9 LYM90 69389.5 0.5 0.04 9 WYM60 69870.8 0.5 0.04 11 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM51 69950.1 0.5 0.28 7 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM63 69982.1 0.4 0.05 12 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM37 70942.6 0.6 0.06 18 WYM57 69514.2 0.6 L 20 WYM66 70176.2 0.6 0.04 17 WYM92 70000.3 0.6 L 25 WYM60 69867.2 0.6 L 24 WYM60 69870.3 0.5 0.06 16 WYM66 70174.1 0.5 0.19 10 CONT. — 0.5 — — WYM57 69517.1 0.5 0.02 13 WYM60 69868.5 0.6 L 21 WYM58 69961.9 0.5 0.09 12 WYM27 69935.9 0.5 0.06 13 WYM66 70174.4 0.5 0.01 17 WYM33 69942.2 0.5 0.03 13 WYM33 69942.1 0.5 0.04 13 WYM57 69515.4 0.6 L 21 CONT. — 0.5 — — WYM57 69513.3 0.5 0.14 12 LYM90 69388.2 0.5 0.12 13 WYM60 69867.3 0.5 0.17 11 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM37 70942.5 0.5 0.15 9 WYM58 69960.7 0.5 0.20 8 CONT. — 0.5 — — LYM90 69388.5 0.5 0.21 9 CONT. — 0.5 — — LYM90 69388.4 0.5 0.28 7 CONT. — 0.5 — — WYM66 70175.2 0.5 0.10 10 WYM66 70173.1 0.5 0.18 9 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM13 69646.1 0.5 L 15 WYM98 70008.2 0.4 0.02 10 LNU74_H109 69484.1 0.4 0.20 5 WYM99 70020.4 0.4 0.11 10 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM108 69635.1 0.5 0.26 6 WYM84 69860.1 0.5 0.02 14 WYM11 69642.2 0.5 0.18 9 WYM84 69865.2 0.5 0.17 9 LNU74_H109 69485.3 0.5 0.18 8 WYM11 69639.9 0.5 0.01 14 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM99 70020.3 0.5 L 16 WYM99 70016.3 0.4 0.02 12 WYM11 69640.3 0.4 0.07 8 WYM101 69712.3 0.4 0.16 7 WYM109 69717.3 0.5 L 17 WYM84 69862.1 0.4 0.25 6 WYM108 69634.1 0.4 0.01 11 WYM84 69864.5 0.4 L 12 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM100 69873.2 0.5 0.18 10 CONT. — 0.5 — — WYM101 69715.8 0.5 0.17 9 WYM108 69632.1 0.5 0.16 11 WYM108 69636.6 0.5 0.11 9 WYM4 69737.8 0.5 0.19 10 WYM11 69640.1 0.5 L 16 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM100 69872.5 0.5 0.13 11 WYM13 69645.2 0.5 0.10 14 WYM99 70016.8 0.5 0.23 9 CONT. — 0.5 — — LNU74_H109 69483.3 0.5 0.16 9 CONT. — 0.5 — — WYM99 70017.5 0.5 0.19 7 WYM13 69647.7 0.5 0.23 7 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM11 69641.2 0.5 0.22 6 WYM98 70009.2 0.5 0.16 7 LNU74_H109 69483.4 0.5 0.02 13 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM4 69739.2 0.4 0.05 10 LNU74_H109 69482.1 0.4 0.06 10 WYM100 69874.5 0.4 0.23 6 WYM99 70020.1 0.4 0.26 6 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM13 69647.4 0.5 0.07 10 WYM109 69719.2 0.5 L 15 WYM11 69638.1 0.5 0.27 7 WYM84 69864.1 0.5 0.26 8 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM99 70017.4 0.4 0.16 11 CONT. — 0.4 — — Table 57. “CONT.”-Control; “Ave.”-Average; “% Incr.” = % increment; “p-val.”-p-value, L-p <0.01.

TABLE 58 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter Rosette Rosette Harvest Index Area [cm²] Diameter [cm] P- % P- % P- % Gene Name Event # Ave. Val. Incr. Ave. Val. Incr. Ave. Val. Incr. WYM7 71168.1 0.3 0.07 14 9.6 0.07 17 5.5 0.05 11 WYM17 71315.1 — — — 9.1 0.05 11 5.4 0.03 8 WYM106 71687.6 — — — 9.1 0.02 10 5.3 L 7 WYM110 71443.5 — — — — — — 5.1 0.09 2 WYM52 71461.2 0.3 0.10 9 8.6 0.21 4 5.3 0.04 6 WYM106 71685.3 0.3 0.09 8 9.9 0.02 20 5.5 0.03 11 CONT. — 0.3 — — 8.2 — — 5.0 — — WYM47 69683.5 — — — 8.7 0.03 12 5.1 0.05 7 WYM7 71172.5 — — — — — — 5.0 0.18 4 CONT. — 0.3 — — 7.7 — — 4.8 — — WYM26 71627.6 — — — 8.1 0.15 10 4.9 0.29 3 WYM77 70949.3 0.3 0.17 13 — — — — — — WYM77 70947.2 — — — 7.7 0.26 5 — — — WYM17 71314.3 — — — 7.6 0.27 4 — — — CONT. — 0.2 — — 7.4 — — 4.7 — — WYM7 71172.1 0.3 0.24 10 — — — — — — WYM7 71169.7 — — — 11.6 0.22 9 6.0 0.28 4 WYM7 71170.1 0.3 0.22 9 — — — — — — WYM95 70181.2 0.3 0.14 15 11.7 0.21 10 6.1 0.22 5 CONT. — 0.3 — — 10.7 — — 5.7 — — WYM80 69993.2 0.3 0.06 20 — — — — — — WYM95 70182.3 — — — 7.5 0.27 6 4.7 0.24 3 WYM17 71313.9 0.3 0.09 20 — — — 4.7 0.20 3 WYM95 70182.5 0.3 0.08 9 — — — 4.7 0.23 2 WYM47 69685.5 — — — 7.4 0.27 4 4.7 0.22 3 WYM17 71316.2 0.3 L 22 — — — — — — WYM95 70178.1 0.3 0.09 8 — — — — — — CONT. — 0.2 — — 7.1 — — 4.6 — — WYM106 71684.4 — — — 7.4 0.18 9 4.6 0.21 4 WYM110 71442.5 — — — 8.9 L 32 5.2 0.02 16 WYM47 69681.4 — — — 8.1 0.08 20 4.9 0.04 11 WYM26 71627.4 — — — 7.4 0.21 9 4.7 0.20 5 WYM26 71626.6 — — — 7.4 0.22 9 4.7 0.20 5 WYM110 71445.5 — — — 7.3 0.25 7 4.8 0.13 7 WYM106 71687.1 — — — 7.4 0.15 9 4.8 0.07 7 CONT. — 0.3 — — 6.8 — — 4.5 — — WYM52 71463.4 0.3 0.15 17 9.5 0.08 20 5.5 0.08 10 WYM110 71445.6 0.3 0.02 35 9.1 0.05 15 5.3 0.10 7 WYM44 71321.3 0.3 0.05 24 9.8 0.02 25 5.7 0.02 14 WYM77 70948.2 0.3 0.04 30 9.9 0.04 25 5.6 0.04 12 WYM26 71623.2 0.3 0.01 25 10.1 L 28 5.6 0.02 13 WYM80 69994.2 0.3 L 30 10.8 L 37 5.8 0.01 17 WYM110 71443.6 0.3 0.03 35 9.0 0.09 14 5.3 0.10 7 WYM17 71313.6 0.3 0.02 39 9.4 0.03 19 5.4 0.07 9 CONT. — 0.2 — — 7.9 — — 5.0 — — WYM95 70181.1 0.3 0.07 23 — — — — — — WYM47 69685.1 0.3 0.01 34 8.4 0.15 13 5.1 0.17 7 WYM95 70183.2 0.3 0.16 13 8.1 0.19 9 5.0 0.19 5 WYM47 69683.3 0.3 0.04 23 8.3 0.16 11 5.1 0.14 8 WYM95 70181.3 0.3 0.09 19 — — — — — — WYM80 69994.4 — — — 8.9 0.07 20 5.1 0.18 7 WYM26 71622.3 0.3 0.16 11 8.4 0.12 13 5.0 0.18 5 CONT. — 0.2 — — 7.4 — — 4.7 — — WYM26 71626.1 — — — 10.0 0.17 8 5.5 0.11 4 WYM52 71465.5 — — — 10.7 0.06 16 5.6 0.09 6 WYM106 71685.5 0.3 0.22 8 — — — — — — CONT. — 0.3 — — 9.2 — — 5.3 — — WYM7 71169.2 — — — 10.6 0.05 18 5.7 0.04 12 WYM52 71461.6 0.3 0.18 21 — — — 5.3 0.25 4 CONT. — 0.3 — — 9.0 — — 5.1 — — WYM26 71626.2 — — — 9.3 0.25 6 5.2 0.30 2 WYM17 71315.4 — — — 9.3 0.25 7 — — — CONT. — 0.3 — — 8.7 — — 5.1 — — WYM7 71170.5 — — — 9.1 0.25 8 5.4 0.12 8 WYM7 71170.3 0.3 0.24 12 9.5 0.16 12 5.3 0.13 8 WYM106 71685.6 — — — — — — 5.1 0.27 4 WYM52 71463.6 — — — 10.0 0.21 17 5.4 0.21 9 CONT. — 0.3 — — 8.5 — — 5.0 — — WYM52 71461.5 0.3 0.29 3 9.0 0.18 13 5.2 0.15 7 WYM106 71687.3 — — — 9.8 0.02 23 5.4 0.03 11 WYM52 71465.2 0.4 0.02 17 8.7 0.09 10 5.2 0.06 8 WYM7 71170.2 — — — 8.7 0.28 9 5.2 0.20 8 WYM110 71445.1 — — — 9.7 L 22 5.4 0.03 11 WYM52 71465.4 — — — 9.1 0.03 15 5.3 0.05 9 WYM44 71321.5 0.4 0.07 16 11.1 L 39 5.8 L 20 WYM44 71317.8 0.3 0.10 9 9.0 0.06 13 5.2 0.05 9 CONT. — 0.3 — — 7.9 — — 4.8 — — WYM44 71322.6 0.3 0.14 11 — — — 5.5 0.18 6 WYM26 71626.4 0.3 0.08 15 10.6 0.06 14 5.5 0.07 6 WYM7 71169.5 0.3 0.11 13 — — — — — — WYM47 69684.3 0.3 0.03 24 10.4 0.13 12 5.6 0.04 8 WYM110 71445.2 0.3 0.29 5 — — — — — — WYM110 71442.2 0.3 0.27 7 — — — — — — CONT. — 0.3 — — 9.3 — — 5.2 — — WYM92 70001.1 — — — 9.0 0.11 15 5.1 0.10 8 WYM60 69869.3 — — — 8.4 0.25 8 — — — CONT. — 0.3 — — 7.8 — — 4.8 — — WYM37 70944.7 0.3 0.29 2 9.4 0.02 21 5.2 0.04 8 WYM57 69512.7 0.4 0.01 9 8.8 0.06 13 5.0 0.12 5 WYM37 70942.4 — — — 9.5 0.02 23 5.2 0.06 10 WYM27 69935.2 0.4 0.09 13 8.8 0.10 13 5.0 0.17 5 WYM58 69959.3 0.3 0.28 4 8.4 0.17 8 — — — WYM63 69984.2 0.3 0.27 5 8.8 0.08 14 5.0 0.09 6 WYM60 69870.2 0.4 0.09 11 8.5 0.26 10 — — — CONT. — 0.3 — — 7.8 — — 4.8 — — WYM63 69982.4 0.4 0.30 4 10.9 L 33 6.0 L 20 WYM27 69936.2 — — — 9.4 L 16 5.4 0.03 9 WYM51 69954.2 — — — 9.8 0.02 20 5.3 L 8 WYM92 70003.1 — — — 9.9 0.01 21 5.4 0.02 9 LYM90 69389.5 — — — 10.1 L 24 5.5 L 10 WYM60 69870.8 — — — 10.1 L 24 5.5 0.01 10 WYM51 69950.5 — — — 9.2 0.05 13 5.4 0.07 8 WYM27 69937.5 — — — 9.1 0.02 11 5.3 0.02 7 CONT. — 0.3 — — 8.2 — — 5.0 — — WYM60 69869.2 0.3 L 30 — — — — — — WYM58 69960.2 0.3 0.20 9 — — — — — — WYM51 69950.1 0.3 0.04 22 10.2 0.03 20 5.4 0.05 8 WYM92 70000.5 0.3 L 18 — — — — — — WYM58 69961.10 0.3 L 27 — — — — — — WYM63 69983.2 0.3 L 29 — — — — — — WYM37 70944.8 0.3 0.05 17 — — — — — — WYM63 69980.3 0.3 L 21 — — — — — — CONT. — 0.2 — — 8.5 — — 5.0 — — WYM92 69998.2 — — — 8.1 0.09 10 4.7 0.11 3 WYM63 69982.1 — — — 8.9 L 20 5.1 0.01 10 WYM37 70942.3 — — — — — — 4.8 0.07 5 WYM63 69984.6 — — — 7.8 0.25 6 4.7 0.18 2 WYM60 69868.3 — — — 8.4 0.03 14 4.9 0.03 7 WYM66 70175.3 — — — 8.3 0.17 12 4.8 0.19 6 CONT. — 0.3 — — 7.4 — — 4.6 — — WYM37 70942.6 0.4 0.05 15 11.4 0.03 27 6.0 0.04 15 WYM57 69514.2 — — — 12.8 L 43 6.3 L 21 WYM66 70176.2 0.3 0.26 4 11.7 0.01 30 5.9 0.01 14 WYM92 70000.3 0.4 0.10 13 12.1 L 35 6.2 L 20 WYM60 69867.2 0.4 0.04 17 12.7 L 41 6.2 L 19 WYM60 69870.3 0.4 0.05 15 10.7 0.06 19 5.8 0.05 11 WYM66 70174.1 — — — 10.1 0.10 13 5.6 0.07 8 CONT. — 0.3 — — 9.0 — — 5.2 — — WYM57 69517.1 — — — 11.6 L 30 6.0 L 15 WYM60 69868.5 — — — 11.8 0.02 32 6.1 0.01 16 WYM58 69961.9 — — — 11.0 L 23 5.7 0.03 10 WYM27 69935.9 0.4 0.03 17 11.0 0.01 24 5.8 0.04 11 WYM66 70174.4 0.3 0.27 4 11.8 0.02 33 6.0 0.03 16 WYM33 69942.2 0.3 0.12 8 10.5 L 18 5.8 L 11 WYM33 69942.1 — — — 11.5 0.01 29 5.9 0.02 14 WYM57 69515.4 — — — 13.5 L 52 6.3 L 21 CONT. — 0.3 — — 8.9 — — 5.2 — — WYM57 69514.3 0.3 0.25 8 9.1 0.15 16 5.2 0.16 7 WYM57 69513.3 — — — 9.6 0.02 22 5.4 0.02 12 LYM90 69388.2 0.3 0.15 9 9.4 0.07 19 5.3 0.06 9 WYM60 69867.3 0.3 0.03 23 9.3 0.07 18 5.3 0.04 10 WYM27 69937.1 0.3 0.11 14 8.3 0.29 6 5.0 0.25 4 LYM90 69389.6 0.3 0.14 10 — — — — — — WYM37 70939.4 0.3 0.08 14 — — — — — — CONT. — 0.2 — — 7.9 — — 4.8 — — WYM37 70942.5 0.3 0.27 5 10.9 L 25 5.7 L 10 WYM33 69938.6 — — — 9.2 0.27 4 — — — WYM58 69960.7 0.3 0.22 9 10.4 0.04 19 5.6 0.02 7 WYM57 69515.1 0.3 0.28 6 9.8 0.09 12 5.4 0.19 4 WYM27 69935.4 — — — 9.3 0.29 6 — — — CONT. — 0.3 — — 8.8 — — 5.2 — — WYM66 70174.3 0.3 0.16 6 9.8 0.23 6 5.5 0.16 5 WYM92 69999.3 0.3 0.17 6 — — — — — — WYM33 69943.2 0.3 0.07 13 — — — — — — LYM90 69388.5 — — — 11.0 0.02 18 5.8 0.03 10 WYM58 69960.3 0.3 0.23 5 — — — — — — WYM51 69950.3 0.3 0.19 9 9.9 0.22 6 — — — CONT. — 0.3 — — 9.3 — — 5.3 — — LYM90 69386.3 0.4 0.03 14 10.3 0.13 10 5.7 0.09 9 WYM27 69936.1 0.4 0.14 9 — — — 5.6 0.11 7 LYM90 69388.4 0.4 0.17 8 10.2 0.16 9 5.7 0.06 8 WYM33 69939.1 0.4 0.14 7 — — — 5.5 0.29 4 WYM57 69512.2 0.4 0.06 12 — — — — — — WYM66 70175.4 0.4 0.02 17 10.1 0.27 7 5.7 0.16 9 CONT. — 0.4 — — 9.4 — — 5.3 — — WYM60 69870.5 — — — 10.6 0.15 9 5.8 0.14 5 WYM58 69961.3 — — — 10.2 0.27 5 — — — CONT. — 0.4 — — 9.7 — — 5.5 — — WYM51 69953.5 0.3 0.20 10 — — — — — — WYM58 69961.7 0.3 0.17 4 9.0 0.18 8 5.2 0.12 5 WYM92 70000.4 0.3 0.26 2 8.6 0.26 4 5.1 0.18 3 WYM51 69954.7 0.3 0.22 6 9.5 0.04 14 5.2 0.08 6 WYM57 69513.2 — — — — — — 5.2 0.11 5 WYM66 70175.2 0.3 0.23 9 9.2 0.05 10 5.3 0.03 8 WYM66 70173.1 — — — 9.8 0.02 18 5.4 0.04 10 CONT. — 0.3 — — 8.3 — — 4.9 — — WYM108 69633.1 — — — 7.4 0.15 9 4.9 0.02 7 WYM13 69646.1 — — — 9.0 L 33 5.3 L 16 WYM98 70008.2 0.3 0.22 6 7.6 0.03 11 5.0 0.05 9 LNU74_H109 69484.1 — — — 7.7 0.02 13 4.9 0.01 6 WYM99 70020.4 — — — 7.7 0.12 13 4.8 0.13 6 WYM109 69717.2 0.3 0.20 9 — — — — — — CONT. — 0.2 — — 6.8 — — 4.6 — — WYM108 69635.1 — — — 7.7 0.15 9 5.0 0.14 5 WYM84 69860.1 — — — 8.4 0.02 18 5.2 0.03 11 WYM11 69642.2 — — — 7.7 0.14 9 5.0 0.14 5 WYM84 69865.2 — — — 8.3 0.05 17 5.2 0.04 10 LNU74_H109 69485.3 — — — 7.4 0.27 5 5.0 0.16 5 WYM11 69639.9 — — — 9.7 L 37 5.6 L 17 CONT. — 0.3 — — 7.1 — — 4.7 — — WYM99 70020.3 0.2 0.15 10 7.3 L 17 4.8 L 9 WYM99 70016.3 0.3 0.03 17 7.2 0.02 15 4.8 0.01 9 WYM11 69640.3 0.2 0.20 6 6.6 0.10 6 4.5 0.07 4 WYM101 69712.3 — — — — — — 4.5 0.20 3 WYM109 69717.3 0.2 0.26 5 7.7 0.04 24 5.0 0.03 14 WYM84 69862.1 — — — — — — 4.5 0.25 2 WYM108 69634.1 0.2 0.12 9 7.3 L 17 4.8 L 10 WYM84 69864.5 0.2 0.13 10 6.8 0.02 8 4.7 0.01 7 CONT. — 0.2 — — 6.2 — — 4.4 — — WYM11 69641.3 — — — 9.9 0.02 11 5.6 0.07 6 WYM98 70009.1 — — — 9.5 0.16 6 5.4 0.30 2 WYM4 69737.3 — — — 9.3 0.20 4 — — — LNU74_H109 69487.1 — — — 9.4 0.15 5 5.4 0.22 3 WYM100 69873.2 — — — 10.3 0.11 15 5.7 0.12 7 WYM101 69713.5 — — — 9.3 0.30 4 — — — WYM109 69720.8 — — — 9.5 0.19 6 — — — WYM99 70016.10 — — — 9.4 0.25 5 5.5 0.29 3 CONT. — 0.3 — — 8.9 — — 5.3 — — WYM109 69720.7 — — — 8.0 0.25 7 — — — WYM100 69875.4 0.3 0.14 9 — — — — — — WYM101 69715.8 0.3 0.10 11 8.5 0.09 13 5.1 0.09 6 WYM108 69632.1 — — — 9.5 0.08 27 5.4 0.06 13 WYM108 69636.6 0.3 0.28 5 8.5 0.03 14 5.2 0.03 8 WYM4 69737.8 0.3 0.08 13 8.4 0.12 12 5.2 0.16 7 WYM11 69640.1 — — — 9.4 0.02 26 5.4 L 12 CONT. — 0.3 — — 7.5 — — 4.8 — — WYM4 69734.2 0.3 0.24 8 — — — — — — WYM4 69736.3 0.3 0.28 8 9.7 0.14 11 5.4 0.21 4 WYM100 69872.5 0.3 0.29 6 10.5 0.02 21 5.6 0.04 8 WYM13 69645.2 — — — 10.8 0.01 24 6.0 L 15 WYM99 70016.8 0.3 0.09 11 10.4 0.03 19 5.6 0.04 7 WYM109 69716.3 0.3 0.09 20 — — — — — — CONT. — 0.3 — — 8.7 — — 5.2 — — WYM109 69716.1 0.3 0.07 23 9.4 0.16 9 5.4 0.21 4 WYM4 69735.3 0.3 0.07 18 — — — — — — WYM101 69710.2 0.3 0.24 9 9.7 0.05 13 5.5 0.10 5 LNU74_H109 69483.3 0.3 0.15 11 10.2 0.02 19 5.8 0.02 10 WYM108 69636.5 0.3 0.05 19 9.5 0.23 11 5.5 0.20 6 WYM101 69712.2 0.3 0.19 9 9.5 0.08 10 5.4 0.15 4 WYM98 70008.3 0.3 0.07 19 9.4 0.20 10 5.5 0.18 5 CONT. — 0.2 — — 8.6 — — 5.2 — — WYM109 69716.4 0.3 0.16 8 — — — 5.2 0.24 4 WYM11 69640.7 — — — — — — 5.2 0.18 3 WYM11 69641.1 0.3 0.02 13 8.8 0.02 11 5.2 0.08 4 WYM99 70017.5 — — — — — — 5.1 0.24 2 WYM98 70009.3 — — — 8.6 0.04 9 5.4 0.02 7 CONT. — 0.2 — — 7.9 — — 5.0 — — WYM84 69860.6 0.3 0.09 13 — — — — — — WYM13 69647.9 0.2 0.27 4 8.0 0.09 — — — — WYM100 69875.3 0.2 0.15 8 — — — — — — WYM13 69644.2 0.2 0.22 5 8.0 0.17 5 5.2 0.13 3 WYM98 70008.1 0.3 0.05 13 8.1 0.19 5 5.3 0.08 5 WYM101 69715.5 — — — 8.6 0.02 12 5.3 0.03 6 WYM84 69864.2 0.2 0.06 10 8.3 0.17 8 5.2 0.10 4 WYM98 70005.3 0.3 0.02 13 8.1 0.03 6 5.1 0.27 2 CONT. — 0.2 — — 7.7 — — 5.0 — — WYM100 69874.1 0.3 0.10 17 — — — 4.9 0.14 2 WYM11 69641.2 0.3 0.17 7 — — — 4.9 0.10 3 WYM98 70005.2 0.3 0.03 15 — — — 4.8 0.24 2 WYM98 70009.6 0.3 0.14 7 — — — 4.8 0.28 1 WYM4 69737.5 0.3 0.12 6 — — — — — — LNU74_H109 69483.4 0.3 0.04 17 9.2 0.04 23 5.3 0.03 12 CONT. — 0.2 — — 7.5 — — 4.8 — — WYM4 69739.2 0.3 0.02 16 6.8 L 16 4.7 L 8 LNU74_H109 69482.1 0.3 0.01 23 7.4 L 26 4.7 0.03 9 LNU74_H109 69482.2 0.3 0.03 17 6.6 0.05 13 4.4 0.22 2 WYM108 69635.3 0.2 0.30 6 6.3 0.15 7 4.4 0.18 2 WYM100 69874.5 0.3 0.01 16 6.7 0.01 14 4.5 0.04 5 WYM98 70008.4 0.3 0.13 16 6.2 0.26 6 — — — WYM99 70020.1 0.3 0.06 13 6.8 L 16 4.6 0.02 6 CONT. — 0.2 — — 5.9 — — 4.3 — — WYM108 69634.2 0.2 0.12 8 — — — — — — WYM84 69860.2 0.3 0.03 12 — — — — — — WYM13 69645.5 0.3 L 22 7.6 0.18 8 4.8 0.20 4 WYM13 69647.1 0.3 L 20 — — — — — — WYM4 69737.1 0.2 0.23 8 — — — — — — CONT. — 0.2 — — 7.1 — — 4.6 — — WYM99 70016.9 — — — 7.5 0.25 8 — — — WYM13 69647.4 — — — 8.5 L 22 5.3 0.01 10 WYM109 69719.2 0.3 0.05 12 8.7 0.01 25 5.3 L 11 WYM101 69715.2 0.3 0.17 5 8.0 0.07 15 5.0 0.13 4 WYM11 69638.1 0.3 0.07 10 8.2 0.05 17 5.1 0.08 7 WYM99 70016.2 0.3 0.30 3 7.4 0.20 6 — — — WYM84 69864.1 — — — 8.6 0.05 24 5.2 0.04 9 CONT. — 0.3 — — 7.0 — — 4.8 — — LNU74 H109 69483.5 — — — 7.4 0.28 5 4.7 0.15 2 WYM101 69715.1 0.3 0.07 11 — — — — — — WYM99 70017.4 — — — 8.8 0.06 24 5.2 0.03 13 WYM108 69635.2 0.3 0.20 8 — — — — — — WYM109 69718.2 0.3 0.10 9 — — — 4.8 0.17 4 CONT. — 0.3 — — 7.1 — — 4.6 — — Table 58. “CONT.”-Control; “Ave.”-Average; “% Incr.” = % increment; “p-val.”-p-value, L-p <0.01.

TABLE 59 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter Seed Yield [mg] 1000 Seed Weight [mg] Gene Name Event # Ave. P-Val. % Incr. Ave. P-Val. % Incr. WYM7 71169.2 — — — 25.6 L 43 WYM52 71461.6 266.5 0.13 28 18.7 0.22 4 WYM95 70181.6 — — — 18.5 0.28 4 CONT. — 208.8 — — 17.9 — — WYM47 69684.1 — — — 21.3 0.20 9 WYM17 71315.4 — — — 22.3 0.02 14 CONT. — 240.5 — — 19.5 — — WYM52 71465.5 — — — 21.4 L 14 CONT. — 213.9 — — 18.8 — — WYM52 71463.4 186.2 0.23 19 19.2 0.28 4 WYM110 71445.6 183.8 0.14 18 — — — WYM44 71321.3 198.0 0.04 27 — — — WYM77 70948.2 208.0 0.05 33 — — — WYM26 71623.2 212.5 0.01 36 — — — WYM80 69994.2 218.8 0.04 40 — — — WYM110 71443.6 221.4 0.06 42 18.9 0.12 2 WYM17 71313.6 193.9 0.14 24 — — — CONT. — 156.4 — — 18.5 — — WYM110 71443.5 — — — 18.8 0.10 7 WYM52 71461.2 183.1 0.25 8 — — — WYM77 70947.1 — — — 22.3 L 26 WYM7 71168.1 184.7 0.19 8 — — — WYM106 71685.3 197.1 0.03 16 — — — CONT. — 170.3 — — 17.7 — — WYM47 69685.1 220.5 0.02 43 — — — WYM95 70181.1 180.8 0.18 17 — — — WYM95 70183.2 194.3 0.07 26 23.3 0.03 18 WYM47 69683.3 193.2 0.04 25 — — — WYM80 69994.4 — — — 21.6 0.13 10 WYM95 70181.3 178.6 0.14 16 — — — WYM26 71622.3 199.0 0.03 29 21.5 0.10 9 WYM77 70949.1 167.7 0.24 9 — — — CONT. — 154.5 — — 19.8 — — WYM47 69682.4 — — — 31.1 L 62 WYM47 69683.5 — — — 20.9 0.15 9 CONT. — 185.7 — — 19.2 — — WYM26 71627.6 — — — 22.4 L 17 WYM77 70949.3 187.4 0.02 20 — — — WYM110 71443.1 164.5 0.26 5 — — — WYM106 71685.2 166.0 0.28 6 19.8 0.17 4 CONT. — 155.9 — — 19.0 — — WYM95 70182.5 182.0 0.04 24 — — — WYM17 71316.2 165.5 0.07 13 — — — WYM47 69685.5 169.9 0.21 16 — — — WYM26 71623.1 — — — 20.0 0.12 9 WYM95 70178.1 173.8 0.06 19 — — — WYM80 69993.2 204.3 0.04 40 — — — WYM95 70182.3 152.0 0.21 4 — — — WYM17 71313.9 193.5 0.08 32 — — — CONT. — 146.2 — — 18.4 — — WYM110 71442.5 — — — 20.6 0.02 9 CONT. — 178.8 — — 18.9 — — WYM52 71463.6 271.3 0.27 16 — — — WYM106 71685.6 — — — 20.1 0.08 8 WYM80 69994.3 — — — 19.4 0.24 5 WYM17 71314.4 — — — 22.0 0.19 19 CONT. — 233.2 — — 18.5 — — WYM52 71465.2 270.0 0.04 16 — — — WYM52 71465.4 247.3 0.18 7 — — — WYM110 71445.1 — — — 20.5 0.03 10 WYM44 71321.5 279.9 0.07 21 — — — WYM44 71317.8 249.4 0.17 8 — — — CONT. — 231.9 — — 18.7 — — WYM95 70181.2 245.9 0.21 14 — — — WYM17 71315.2 — — — 21.9 0.05 12 CONT. — 215.5 — — 19.5 — — WYM26 71626.4 278.2 0.06 27 — — — WYM47 69684.3 267.9 0.13 22 — — — WYM77 70948.4 — — — 30.6 L 59 CONT. — 218.9 — — 19.3 — — WYM13 69646.1 — — — 21.6 L 17 WYM98 70008.2 168.7 0.07 9 19.3 0.16 5 LNU74_H109 69484.1 166.9 0.22 8 19.9 0.03 8 WYM99 70020.4 164.9 0.23 6 — — — WYM109 69717.2 163.3 0.30 5 — — — WYM108 69633.1 169.5 0.29 9 19.9 0.13 8 WYM4 69736.6 160.9 0.24 4 — — — CONT. — 155.2 — — 18.4 — — WYM13 69645.2 — — — 22.7 0.04 10 WYM99 70016.8 214.1 0.22 8 — — — WYM109 69716.3 238.0 0.17 20 — — — WYM100 69872.5 219.1 0.17 11 — — — CONT. — 197.7 — — 20.6 — — WYM98 70005.2 181.7 0.15 7 — — — WYM4 69737.5 — — — 19.5 0.03 3 LNU74_H109 69483.4 205.1 0.07 21 21.1 0.03 12 CONT. — 169.3 — — 18.9 — — WYM4 69739.2 174.8 0.12 13 — — — LNU74_H109 69482.1 195.7 0.01 27 — — — LNU74_H109 69482.2 179.0 0.03 16 — — — WYM100 69874.5 182.4 0.06 18 — — — WYM98 70008.4 168.6 0.24 9 — — — WYM99 70020.1 169.1 0.11 10 — — — CONT. — 154.4 — — 18.9 — — WYM99 70016.3 171.5 0.20 8 — — — WYM109 69717.3 — — — 20.4 0.16 7 WYM84 69864.5 167.8 0.23 6 — — — CONT. — 158.1 — — 19.1 — — WYM108 69634.2 — — — 19.5 0.24 5 WYM84 69860.2 171.4 0.10 12 — — — WYM13 69645.5 185.5 0.02 21 — — — WYM13 69647.1 197.9 L 29 — — — CONT. — 152.9 — — 18.6 — — LNU74_H109 69483.5 — — — 22.2 L 14 WYM99 70017.4 — — — 21.0 0.06 8 LNU74_H109 69485.2 — — — 21.4 0.07 10 CONT. — 189.6 — — 19.4 — — WYM11 69638.1 202.2 0.23 9 27.0 0.28 21 WYM99 70016.9 198.3 0.30 7 — — — WYM109 69719.2 210.1 0.15 13 — — — CONT. — 185.9 — — 22.2 — — WYM101 69715.3 191.0 0.29 11 — — — WYM11 69642.2 184.9 0.29 7 — — — WYM11 69639.9 — — — 22.1 L 14 WYM84 69860.1 — — — 22.0 L 14 CONT. — 172.5 — — 19.4 — — WYM13 69644.2 160.0 0.13 7 — — — WYM98 70008.1 162.6 0.05 9 — — — WYM101 69715.5 163.8 0.12 10 22.6 L 14 WYM84 69864.2 164.5 0.09 10 — — — WYM98 70005.3 164.7 0.10 10 — — — WYM84 69860.6 172.4 0.08 16 — — — WYM13 69647.9 162.4 0.06 9 — — — WYM100 69875.3 163.2 0.12 9 — — — CONT. — 149.1 — — 19.8 — — WYM98 70008.3 178.4 0.15 13 — — — WYM109 69716.1 177.6 0.22 13 — — — WYM4 69735.3 183.3 0.10 17 — — — WYM101 69710.2 189.1 0.06 20 — — — LNU74_H109 69483.3 196.5 0.06 25 21.8 0.05 14 WYM108 69636.5 189.3 0.07 20 — — — WYM101 69712.2 171.9 0.24 9 19.5 0.21 2 CONT. — 157.2 — — 19.2 — — WYM109 69716.4 182.2 0.24 5 — — — WYM98 70009.3 — — — 22.0 0.11 9 WYM11 69641.1 186.4 0.06 8 — — — WYM99 70017.5 — — — 30.6 L 51 CONT. — 172.8 — — 20.3 — — WYM99 70016.10 — — — 22.2 L 18 CONT. — 242.4 — — 18.9 — — WYM109 69720.7 — — — 20.6 0.04 8 WYM101 69715.8 191.4 0.18 9 — — — WYM108 69636.6 189.6 0.17 8 — — — WYM4 69737.8 191.0 0.15 8 — — — CONT. — 176.3 — — 19.2 — — WYM37 70942.5 206.7 0.04 15 18.5 0.02 6 WYM57 69515.1 190.9 0.27 6 — — — WYM27 69935.4 195.4 0.14 9 18.7 L 7 WYM58 69960.7 200.9 0.12 12 — — — WYM57 69513.8 — — — 17.8 0.25 2 CONT. — 179.7 — — 17.5 — — WYM37 70944.8 180.4 0.10 15 — — — WYM63 69980.3 175.8 0.08 12 — — — WYM92 70000.5 187.2 0.02 20 21.6 L 20 WYM58 69961.10 181.6 0.03 16 — — — WYM63 69983.2 187.5 0.03 20 — — — WYM60 69869.2 183.5 0.03 17 — — — WYM58 69960.2 176.2 0.08 13 19.5 L 8 WYM51 69950.1 194.0 L 24 20.3 0.02 12 CONT. — 156.5 — — 18.1 — — WYM63 69982.1 — — — 17.9 0.19 2 CONT. — 178.6 — — 17.5 — — LYM90 69388.2 175.0 0.06 16 18.1 0.30 3 WYM60 69867.3 197.1 0.01 31 — — — WYM27 69937.1 170.1 0.15 13 — — — LYM90 69389.6 169.2 0.16 12 — — — WYM37 70939.4 178.4 0.08 18 — — — WYM57 69514.3 173.2 0.20 15 — — — WYM57 69513.3 172.4 0.14 14 19.0 0.09 8 CONT. — 151.0 — — 17.7 — — WYM51 69954.7 — — — 18.7 0.06 4 WYM37 70944.2 176.7 0.17 6 — — — CONT. — 166.6 — — 18.0 — — WYM60 69870.2 197.2 0.21 8 — — — WYM57 69512.7 197.0 0.05 8 — — — WYM27 69935.2 206.3 0.16 13 — — — CONT. — 182.3 — — 18.2 — — WYM37 70942.6 253.7 0.04 /9 — — — WYM57 69514.2 216.5 0.17 10 21.0 0.05 12 WYM66 70176.2 224.2 0.11 14 — — — WYM92 70000.3 236.2 0.09 21 — — — WYM60 69867.2 281.5 0.02 44 19.2 0.13 3 WYM60 69870.3 229.0 0.12 17 — — — CONT. — 196.0 — — 18.7 — — WYM57 69515.4 — — — 19.0 0.08 6 WYM33 69942.1 210.6 0.01 18 20.5 0.05 14 WYM57 69517.1 — — — 21.9 L 22 WYM60 69868.5 197.9 0.04 11 — — — WYM27 69935.9 217.9 0.03 22 — — — WYM66 70174.4 191.8 0.28 8 — — — WYM33 69942.2 209.4 0.07 18 18.9 0.06 5 CONT. — 178.0 — — 18.0 — — WYM63 69982.4 191.5 0.06 7 — — — WYM92 70003.1 184.7 0.21 3 — — — WYM60 69870.8 — — — 18.8 0.17 3 CONT. — 179.1 — — 18.2 — — LYM90 69386.3 258.2 0.01 15 — — — WYM27 69936.1 241.9 0.22 8 19.2 0.17 8 LYM90 69388.4 239.7 0.21 7 18.4 0.26 4 WYM33 69939.1 242.6 0.13 8 19.7 0.04 10 WYM57 69512.2 258.7 0.12 16 — — — WYM66 70175.4 273.9 L 22 — — — CONT. — 223.7 — — 17.8 — — WYM60 69869.3 — — — 21.9 0.03 16 CONT. — 178.6 — — 18.9 — — WYM60 69870.5 — — — 20.9 0.05 11 WYM58 69960.1 — — — 20.6 0.02 10 CONT. — 225.9 — — 18.8 — — WYM33 69943.2 198.2 0.21 8 — — — LYM90 69388.5 — — — 21.5 0.02 18 WYM51 69950.3 189.4 0.29 3 — — — CONT. — 183.9 — — 18.2 — — LYM90 69389.3 197.1 0.25 5 — — — WYM66 70177.7 — — — 18.1 0.28 2 CONT. — 188.3 — — 17.8 — — Table 59. “CONT.”-Control; “Ave.”-Average; “% Incr” = % increment; “p-val.”-p-value, L-p <0.01.

Example 19 Evaluation of Transgenic Arabidopsis for Seed Yield and Plant Growth Rate Under Normal Conditions in Greenhouse Assays Until Bolting (GH-SB Assays)

Assay 2: Plant performance improvement measured until bolting stage: plant biomass and plant growth rate under normal greenhouse conditions (GH-SB Assays)—This assay follows the plant biomass formation and the rosette area growth of plants grown in the greenhouse under normal growth conditions. Transgenic Arabidopsis seeds were sown in agar media supplemented with ½ MS medium and a selection agent (Kanamycin). The T₂ transgenic seedlings were then transplanted to 1.7 trays filled with peat and perlite in a 1:1 ratio. The trays were irrigated with a solution containing of 6 mM inorganic nitrogen in the form of KNO₃ with 1 mM KH₂PO₄, 1 mM MgSO₄, 2 mM CaCl₂ and microelements. All plants were grown in the greenhouse until bolting stage. Plant biomass (the above ground tissue) was weight in directly after harvesting the rosette (plant fresh weight [FW]). Following plants were dried in an oven at 50° C. for 48 hours and weighted (plant dry weight [DW]).

Each construct was validated at its T₂ generation. Transgenic plants transformed with a construct conformed by an empty vector carrying the 35S promoter and the selectable marker were used as control.

The plants were analyzed for their overall size, growth rate, fresh weight and dry matter. Transgenic plants performance was compared to control plants grown in parallel under the same conditions. Mock-transgenic plants expressing the uidA reporter gene (GUS-Intron) or with no gene at all, under the same promoter were used as control.

The experiment was planned in nested randomized plot distribution. For each gene of the invention three to five independent transformation events were analyzed from each construct.

Digital imaging—A laboratory image acquisition system, which consists of a digital reflex camera (Canon EOS 300D) attached with a 55 mm focal length lens (Canon EF-S series), mounted on a reproduction device (Kaiser RS), which includes 4 light units (4×150 Watts light bulb) was used for capturing images of plant samples.

The image capturing process was repeated every 2 days starting from day 1 after transplanting till day 15. Same camera, placed in a custom made iron mount, was used for capturing images of larger plants sawn in white tubs in an environmental controlled greenhouse. The tubs were square shape include 1.7 liter trays. During the capture process, the tubes were placed beneath the iron mount, while avoiding direct sun light and casting of shadows.

An image analysis system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P43.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program—ImageJ 1.39 [Java based image processing program which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and freely available on the internet at Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/]. Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888×2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Leaf analysis—Using the digital analysis leaves data was and is calculated, including leaf number, rosette area, rosette diameter, and leaf blade area.

Vegetative growth rate: the relative growth rate (GR) of leaf number (Formula IX, described above), rosette area (Formula XIX described above) and plot coverage (Formula XX, described above) were calculated using the indicated formulas.

Plant Fresh and Dry weight—On about day 80 from sowing, the plants were harvested and directly weight for the determination of the plant fresh weight (FW) and left to dry at 50° C. in a drying chamber for about 48 hours before weighting to determine plant dry weight (DW).

Statistical analyses—To identify outperforming genes and constructs, results from the independent transformation events tested were analyzed separately. Data was analyzed using Student's t-test and results were considered significant if the p value was less than 0.1. The JMP statistics software package was used (Version 5.2.1, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, N.C., USA).

Experimental Results:

Tables 60-62 summarize the observed phenotypes of transgenic plants expressing the genes constructs using the GH-SB Assays.

The genes listed in Tables 60-62 improved plant performance when grown at normal conditions. These genes produced larger plants with a larger photosynthetic area, biomass (fresh weight, dry weight, leaf number, rosette diameter, and rosette area), and growth rate. The genes were cloned under the regulation of a constitutive At6669 promoter (SEQ ID NO:9405). The evaluation of each gene was performed by testing the performance of different number of events. Event with p-value <0.1 was considered statistically significant.

TABLE 60 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Leaf Number P- % P- % P- % Gene Name Event # Ave. Val. Incr. Ave. Val. Incr. Ave. Val. Incr. LAB259 69401.8 70.0 0.06 17 836.9 0.01 18 10.0 0.01 9 WYM18 70938.3 73.4 0.02 22 923.2 L 30 9.7 0.02 6 WYM86 70919.5 69.5 0.07 16 — — — 9.4 0.26 2 WYM30 69672.2 74.1 0.05 23 888.7 L 25 10.0 0.05 8 WYM83 70956.7 69.2 0.06 15 837.5 0.08 18 9.6 0.11 5 WYM83 70953.1 79.2 0.02 32 912.5 0.01 28 10.7 L 16 WYM105 70931.3 63.4 0.26 6 776.8 0.28 9 9.5 0.13 3 WYM83 70955.6 — — — — — — 9.6 0.04 4 CONT. — 60.0 — — 711.5 — — 9.2 — — WYM48 69972.5 61.9 0.04 26 711.9 0.07 19 9.9 L 8 WYM86 70917.3 73.7 0.02 50 861.9 0.04 44 10.0 0.01 10 WYM32 70412.2 63.0 0.11 28 663.7 0.25 11 — — — LAB259 69400.1 65.0 0.02 32 700.0 0.07 17 9.4 0.02 3 WYM30 69668.2 — — — 650.0 0.27 8 — — — LYM91 69394.5 52.8 0.28 7 — — — — — — CONT. — 49.2 — — 600.6 — — 9.1 — — WYM61 69974.2 80.8 0.01 31 850.6 0.05 18 — — — WYM83 70951.3 70.0 0.13 14 776.2 0.25 7 — — — WYM86 70918.6 70.9 0.03 15 900.0 L 24 10.1 0.11 6 WYM105 70930.2 69.0 0.14 12 819.0 0.04 13 — — — WYM32 70415.2 72.1 0.04 17 787.5 0.07 9 — — — WYM18 70938.6 80.0 L 30 895.8 L 24 9.8 0.30 2 WYM83 70951.4 82.5 L 34 950.0 L 31 10.4 0.10 8 CONT. — 61.6 — — 723.2 — — 9.6 — — WYM86 70919.2 66.7 0.02 24 758.3 0.03 18 — — — WYM61 69978.1 56.2 0.29 4 710.1 0.03 11 — — — WYM87 70960.8 63.1 0.09 17 781.5 L 22 9.7 0.17 4 WYM32 70414.3 69.5 L 29 809.5 L 26 10.0 0.04 7 WYM32 70413.2 70.9 0.06 32 791.7 0.01 23 9.6 0.22 3 WYM83 70956.5 62.1 0.09 15 766.7 0.09 19 — — — WYM30 69672.4 68.2 0.14 27 798.8 0.02 24 10.0 0.04 7 LYM91 69395.2 58.8 0.06 9 834.5 0.02 30 — — — CONT. — 53.9 — — 641.7 — — 9.3 — — WYM18 70938.7 87.5 0.19 12 1179.2 0.07 15 10.9 0.03 8 WYM87 70960.3 — — — 1091.7 0.17 7 — — — WYM32 70416.3 — — — — — — 11.0 0.06 9 CONT. — 77.9 — — 1025.0 — — 10.1 — — WYM105 70932.10 60.7 0.07 20 617.9 0.07 14 — — — WYM105 70932.9 56.3 0.16 12 608.3 0.09 12 — — — LYM91 69395.1 — — — 583.3 0.28 8 — — — WYM87 70961.7 54.4 0.07 8 605.6 0.10 12 — — — WYM105 70930.1 57.5 0.06 14 616.7 0.07 14 — — — WYM30 69672.1 — — — 591.7 0.16 9 — — — LAB259 69401.1 61.3 0.03 21 650.0 0.03 20 — — — CONT. — 50.5 — — 541.5 — — 9.8 — — WYM32 70417.1 66.7 L 13 804.2 L 11 9.8 L 8 WYM61 69978.3 — — — 748.4 0.22 4 9.4 0.23 4 WYM86 70919.1 — — — — — — 9.3 0.10 3 WYM83 70953.2 65.7 0.19 12 — — — 9.7 0.09 7 WYM83 70956.1 62.7 0.27 7 774.4 0.03 7 9.3 L 3 WYM86 70920.1 67.5 L 15 856.9 0.01 19 9.5 0.06 5 CONT. — 58.9 — — 721.4 — — 9.0 — — WYM48 69972.3 71.3 0.04 15 912.5 0.13 8 10.0 0.26 3 LYM91 69392.6 75.2 0.08 21 952.4 0.13 13 — — — WYM18 70936.3 67.1 0.14 8 — — — — — — WYM48 69968.1 80.0 L 29 987.5 0.02 17 10.3 0.14 6 LAB259 69399.7 73.8 0.02 19 979.2 0.04 16 10.0 0.21 3 LAB259 69401.6 73.8 0.02 19 987.5 0.03 17 10.3 0.17 6 CONT. — 62.0 — — 845.5 — — 9.8 — — WYM48 69968.4 86.3 L 28 883.9 0.02 25 10.1 0.19 5 WYM32 70415.3 80.4 0.02 19 829.2 0.06 17 10.0 0.24 3 WYM18 70937.6 — — — 779.2 0.27 10 — — — WYM48 69973.4 — — — — — — 10.0 0.22 4 CONT. — 67.5 — — 706.5 — — 9.6 — — WYM18 70937.3 77.5 0.04 17 858.3 0.16 6 10.5 0.11 5 WYM32 70416.11 87.4 0.02 32 1097.0 0.01 35 11.0 0.04 9 WYM30 69670.3 73.4 0.13 11 — — — — — — WYM83 70952.1 70.9 0.21 7 — — — — — — WYM61 69978.2 79.1 0.06 20 947.6 0.14 17 — — — WYM18 70938.5 80.8 0.08 22 945.2 0.10 16 10.5 0.10 5 WYM61 69974.1 70.0 0.19 6 — — — — — — WYM87 70962.4 72.7 0.16 10 — — — — — — CONT. — 66.1 — — 813.0 — — 10.1 — — WYM105 70931.1 74.6 0.27 9 945.8 0.24 12 — — — WYM48 69970.4 78.1 0.10 15 981.0 0.13 16 — — — LAB259 69402.1 73.4 0.20 8 948.4 0.11 12 — — — LYM91 69395.3 89.8 L 32 1130.9 0.01 33 10.3 0.11 4 WYM32 70416.4 — — — 887.5 0.29 5 — — — WYM87 70962.5 83.0 0.02 22 1107.1 0.01 31 10.7 0.06 8 WYM61 69979.4 82.5 0.08 21 1070.8 0.03 26 10.2 0.26 3 WYM87 70960.2 78.6 0.05 15 968.5 0.11 14 — — — CONT. — 68.2 — — 848.2 — — 9.9 — — WYM83 70956.4 64.6 0.11 10 675.0 0.19 6 — — — WYM86 70917.2 66.2 0.04 13 704.8 L 10 9.5 0.24 2 WYM61 69977.1 — — — — — — 9.8 0.23 4 WYM30 69670.2 61.8 0.15 6 679.8 0.10 7 9.6 0.20 3 LAB259 69399.6 74.2 L 27 833.3 L 31 9.9 0.10 6 WYM61 69977.4 67.5 0.05 15 747.6 L 17 — — — WYM30 69670.1 72.1 L 23 812.5 L 27 10.2 0.02 9 LYM91 69394.2 60.9 0.19 4 683.3 0.07 7 — — — CONT. — 58.6 — — 637.9 — — 9.3 — — WYM105 70928.2 69.0 0.01 17 769.0 0.01 22 9.9 0.09 6 WYM18 70936.4 — — — — — — 9.7 0.21 4 WYM86 70917.1 — — — — — — 9.7 0.22 4 WYM86 70918.7 64.6 0.07 9 929.2 0.13 48 9.8 0.16 5 LAB259 69403.2 62.6 0.27 6 715.5 0.09 14 10.1 0.15 9 WYM61 69977.3 — — — 670.2 0.26 7 — — — WYM18 70937.11 71.7 L 21 812.5 L 29 9.8 0.17 5 CONT. — 59.1 — — 628.1 — — 9.3 — — WYM48 69973.1 63.4 0.24 10 800.0 0.16 10 10.0 0.04 10 WYM87 70962.2 — — — 768.1 0.24 5 9.3 0.07 3 WYM86 70920.4 — — — — — — 10.0 0.02 11 LYM91 69392.2 — — — — — — 9.6 0.04 6 WYM48 69973.5 60.9 0.26 6 812.5 0.08 12 9.8 0.02 8 WYM32 70416.6 — — — — — — 10.2 L 12 LYM91 69392.4 64.2 0.14 12 820.8 0.09 13 9.8 0.02 8 LYM91 69393.1 — — — — — — 9.8 L 8 CONT. — 57.6 — — 728.1 — — 9.1 — — WYM62 71467.5 — — — — — — 11.5 0.04 9 LYM490_H1 71155.4 200.0 0.23 5 2829.2 0.24 4 11.3 0.08 7 WYM46 71151.5 — — — 2825.0 0.14 4 — — — CONT. — 191.0 — — 2709.4 — — 10.6 — — WYM28 71456.2 208.4 0.09 8 — — — — — — WYM46 71154.6 229.2 0.03 18 — — — — — — LYM490_H1 71158.3 — — — — — — 10.6 0.03 7 WYM96 71173.2 — — — — — — 10.1 0.13 2 WYM46 71150.5 206.3 0.25 6 — — — — — — WYM71 72157.7 218.9 0.20 13 — — — — — — CONT. — 193.8 — — 2625.0 — — 9.9 — — WYM35 71163.1 172.9 0.27 2 — — — — — — WYM90 71891.2 181.3 0.12 7 2550.0 0.07 6 10.4 L 5 CONT. — 169.4 — — 2406.3 — — 9.9 — — LYM490_H1 71157.1 188.3 0.11 6 — — — — — — WYM46 71151.1 189.2 0.17 6 2366.7 0.17 4 — — — WYM21 71762.4 186.3 0.10 5 — — — — — — WYM71 72158.1 188.8 0.08 6 2345.8 0.27 3 9.8 0.24 3 CONT. — 178.0 — — 2270.8 — — 9.5 — — WYM112 69928.3 171.7 0.01 14 2354.2 0.02 11 9.9 0.12 5 LYM490_H1 71155.2 169.2 L 13 2416.7 0.01 14 10.3 0.01 10 WYM34 71768.2 158.8 0.07 6 2254.2 0.08 7 9.9 0.06 6 WYM90 71891.6 — — — — — — 9.7 0.23 3 WYM28 71457.6 — — — — — — 9.8 0.13 4 WYM34 71769.1 170.4 L 13 2520.8 L 19 10.0 0.07 6 WYM28 71457.2 158.4 0.07 5 2187.5 0.23 4 9.6 0.21 3 WYM71 72162.1 154.6 0.17 3 2254.2 0.08 7 9.6 0.26 3 CONT. — 150.2 — — 2113.0 — — 9.4 — — WYM35 71166.2 183.8 0.17 7 2675.0 0.11 5 — — — WYM71 72162.3 189.6 0.08 10 2620.8 0.23 3 — — — WYM71 72157.3 181.7 0.29 5 — — — 10.7 0.03 6 CONT. — 172.5 — — 2548.8 — — 10.1 — — WYM34 71767.6 — — — — — — 9.9 0.30 1 WYM96 71176.3 — — — — — — 10.2 0.19 4 WYM71 72157.10 199.2 0.11 5 2779.2 0.10 4 9.9 0.23 2 CONT. — 190.0 — — 2662.5 — — 9.8 — — WYM46 71150.6 187.1 0.06 7 2612.5 0.15 5 10.0 0.29 2 WYM21 71763.3 — — — 2616.7 0.17 5 10.3 0.09 4 CONT. — 174.5 — — 2492.5 — — 9.8 — — WYM112 69931.2 — — — — — — 10.2 0.07 3 WYM35 71166.1 189.8 0.23 2 2578.6 0.20 2 — — — WYM62 71467.7 — — — — — — 10.1 0.24 2 WYM96 71178.1 190.0 0.23 2 2608.3 0.11 3 — — — WYM21 71761.1 — — — 2608.3 0.21 3 10.1 0.18 2 WYM35 71161.1 — — — 2625.6 0.08 4 — — — CONT. — 186.0 — — 2521.9 — — 9.9 — — WYM21 71762.6 183.4 L 10 2650.0 L 11 — — — WYM46 71149.5 170.4 0.22 2 — — — — — — CONT. — 167.2 — — 2397.9 — — 10.2 — — WYM96 71178.3 — — — 2504.2 0.12 7 10.6 0.02 8 WYM90 71889.1 185.0 0.13 8 2683.3 0.02 14 10.5 0.03 7 WYM112 69926.4 — — — — — — 10.3 0.15 4 CONT. — 171.9 — — 2346.9 — — 9.8 — — WYM35 71162.9 — — — — — — 10.0 0.12 3 WYM90 71888.2 189.2 0.02 12 2587.5 0.04 9 — — — WYM112 69929.1 — — — — — — 10.0 0.12 3 CONT. — 169.1 — — 2378.1 — — 9.8 — — LYM490_H1 71156.2 — — — — — — 9.7 0.29 2 WYM96 71174.1 — — — — — — 10.0 0.06 6 WYM96 71176.2 — — — — — — 9.9 0.04 5 WYM62 71466.2 — — — — — — 9.8 0.15 3 WYM90 71888.1 196.5 0.08 6 2648.8 0.06 6 10.2 0.03 7 WYM71 72160.5 — — — — — — 9.7 0.16 2 CONT. — 185.3 — — 2495.1 — — 9.5 — — WYM34 71766.6 — — — — — — 10.0 0.17 3 WYM71 72162.2 — — — — — — 10.2 0.08 5 WYM96 71173.3 — — — — — — 10.2 0.06 5 WYM28 71456.1 — — — — — — 9.9 0.29 2 WYM62 71466.4 222.5 0.25 5 — — — 10.0 0.18 4 CONT. — 211.3 — — 2660.0 — — 9.7 — — WYM79 69537.4 198.4 0.05 18 2808.3 0.08 14 9.7 0.06 8 WYM70 70034.6 192.1 0.03 14 2612.5 0.27 6 9.9 0.05 10 WYM79 69537.3 190.2 0.03 13 2542.9 0.19 3 9.5 0.20 6 WYM24 69663.3 211.3 L 26 2979.2 L 21 — — — LYM320 69406.3 188.5 L 12 2567.9 0.24 4 — — — WYM79 69537.2 175.9 0.22 5 — — — — — — WYM93 69690.2 182.1 0.08 8 — — — — — — WYM94 69628.3 183 0.07 9 2535.1 0.25 3 9.3 0.19 3 CONT. — 167.9 — — 2466.7 — — 9.0 — — WYM24 69667.7 202.1 0.24 6 — — — 9.3 0.14 5 WYM79 69536.2 — — — — — — 9.3 0.01 5 WYM15 69495.5 — — — — — — 9.3 0.11 4 WYM70 70034.2 204.2 0.19 7 — — — 9.4 L 6 WYM31 69730.7 — — — — — — 9.1 0.20 2 CONT. — 190.5 — — 2662.5 — — 8.9 — — WYM94 69629.2 — — — — — — 9.3 0.17 3 WYM15 69495.4 — — — 2708.3 0.28 3 9.1 0.28 1 CONT. — 181.3 — — 2634.4 — — 9.0 — — LYM320 69405.2 — — — — — — 9.3 0.20 4 WYM70 70038.4 — — — — — — 9.4 0.21 5 CONT. — 221.0 — — 2490.6 — — 9.0 — — WYM31 69731.1 201.2 0.05 12 2769.0 0.06 16 — — — WYM94 69631.2 197.9 0.02 10 2666.7 L 12 — — — WYM31 69730.4 187.7 0.09 4 2523.8 0.10 6 — — — LYM320 69409.1 199.6 L 11 2704.2 0.01 13 9.3 0.21 3 WYM65 69521.1 200.9 0.02 12 2891.7 0.03 21 — — — WYM65 69520.1 — — — 2420.8 0.30 2 — — — WYM70 70038.1 195.0 L 8 2695.8 0.02 13 — — — WYM31 69729.2 186.3 0.12 4 2562.5 0.02 7 — — — CONT. — 179.9 — — 2383.9 — — 9.1 — — WYM55 69509.6 202.8 0.24 8 2512.5 0.17 10 — — — WYM15 69497.2 — — — — — — 9.3 0.17 6 WYM93 69686.1 203.8 0.22 8 — — — 9.3 0.05 6 WYM15 69495.2 — — — — — — 9.3 0.07 6 WYM70 70039.2 — — — — — — 9.1 0.14 3 WYM79 69541.2 — — — — — — 9.7 L 9 WYM55 69509.5 — — — — — — 9.0 0.14 2 CONT. — 188.4 — — 2287.5 — — 8.8 — — WYM22 69501.2 — — — 2762.5 0.19 25 — — — WYM93 69686.2 190.8 0.11 4 2566.7 L 16 — — — WYM70 70039.7 202.5 0.07 10 2641.7 L 19 9.4 0.08 6 LYM320 69406.1 — — — — — — 9.9 0.01 12 WYM65 69519.5 196.3 0.11 7 2429.2 0.03 9 9.4 0.11 6 WYM65 69520.4 203.8 L 11 2495.8 0.09 12 9.5 0.04 8 CONT. — 183.5 — — 2218.8 — — 8.8 — — WYM24 69664.1 177.5 0.29 3 2641.7 0.27 3 9.3 0.21 5 WYM22 69501.5 184.2 0.05 7 2912.5 L 14 — — — WYM79 69540.2 187.1 0.07 9 2858.3 0.03 11 9.2 0.10 4 WYM22 69504.6 — — — — — — 9.0 0.26 3 WYM93 69686.4 — — — — — — 9.4 0.04 7 CONT. — 171.6 — — 2565.6 — — 8.8 — — WYM15 69498.1 — — — 2341.7 0.17 6 — — — WYM93 69688.2 — — — — — — 9.1 0.25 3 WYM94 69626.6 — — — — — — 9.1 0.28 2 CONT. — 203.5 — — 2218.8 — — 8.9 — — WYM31 69729.3 — — — — — — 9.1 0.17 3 WYM94 69628.1 — — — — — — 9.4 0.08 6 WYM65 69519.3 188.8 0.17 4 2290.5 0.10 6 9.3 0.14 5 WYM94 69629.3 197.5 0.07 9 2316.7 0.03 7 9.0 0.29 1 CONT. — 180.8 — — 2165.0 — — 8.9 — — WYM93 69687.3 — — — 2133.3 0.19 7 — — — WYM65 69519.1 158.6 0.20 6 2132.7 0.19 7 — — — WYM65 69523.2 165.9 0.11 11 2166.7 0.20 9 — — — WYM22 69500.5 159.2 0.24 7 2166.7 0.18 9 — — — WYM79 69538.3 166.3 0.12 12 2291.7 0.05 15 9.3 0.20 4 WYM22 69504.5 159.2 0.20 7 2186.3 0.16 10 — — — WYM79 69538.1 164.6 0.11 11 2333.3 0.04 17 9.2 0.29 3 CONT. — 149.0 — — 1996.0 — — 8.9 — — WYM24 69662.2 214.2 0.05 12 2587.5 0.11 8 9.3 0.26 2 WYM94 69630.1 — — — — — — 9.3 0.29 2 WYM24 69662.1 202.1 0.19 6 2516.7 0.22 5 9.3 0.23 2 WYM93 69688.1 213.8 0.05 12 — — — 9.6 0.04 5 WYM22 69500.8 210.0 0.09 10 2539.9 0.18 6 — — — WYM70 70034.7 200.7 0.22 5 — — — — — — CONT. — 191.4 — — 2399.7 — — 9.1 — — WYM55 69507.2 — — — — — — 9.7 0.08 3 WYM79 69536.1 206.7 0.02 10 2500.0 L 13 9.6 0.16 3 WYM55 69510.2 — — — 2408.3 0.09 8 — — — WYM70 70039.6 200.4 0.10 7 2512.5 0.02 13 9.8 0.06 5 WYM22 69504.3 204.0 0.25 9 2637.9 0.08 19 — — — WYM22 69504.2 207.9 0.02 11 2554.2 L 15 — — — LYM320 69405.3 — — — 2325.0 0.18 5 9.9 0.05 6 WYM93 69690.3 — — — 2412.5 0.10 9 — — — CONT. — 187.5 — — 2221.9 — — 9.3 — — WYM31 69730.5 — — — — — — 9.1 0.19 1 WYM15 69494.2 — — — 2287.5 0.27 6 9.2 0.24 2 CONT. — 157.5 — — 2162.5 — — 9.0 — — LYM208_H4 69488.5 135.9 0.11 8 — — — — — — WYM16 69883.9 144.6 0.03 15 1683.3 0.05 12 10.2 0.22 1 WYM16 69883.7 132.1 0.11 5 — — — — — — WYM25 69725.4 133.3 0.23 6 — — — — — — WYM16 69883.4 136.7 0.06 9 1570.8 0.23 4 — — — WYM25 69726.1 — — — 1554.2 0.27 3 10.7 0.08 6 WYM81 69542.6 130.0 0.25 4 — — — — — — LYM208_H4 69489.10 137.2 0.07 9 1615.8 0.21 7 — — — LYM208_H4 69490.1 — — — 1607.1 0.22 7 — — — LYM208_H4 69490.2 — — — — — — 10.5 0.07 4 WYM81 69542.3 — — — — — — 10.3 0.23 2 WYM25 69724.1 149.2 L 19 1854.2 0.07 23 10.3 0.20 2 WYM25 69726.5 145.4 0.09 16 1779.2 0.03 18 10.6 0.13 5 LYM208_H4 69489.5 132.5 0.19 6 — — — — — — LYM208_H4 69488.1 142.9 0.19 14 1600.0 0.11 6 — — — CONT. — 125.6 — — 1506.0 — — 10.1 — — WYM64 72486.1 259.2 0.08 9 4008.3 0.18 7   — — WYM38 71688.4 262.9 0.07 10 — — — — — — WYM38 71688.3 250.3 0.22 5 — — — — — — WYM12 71897.1 261.3 0.09 9 — — — — — — WYM85 71526.6 278.4 0.02 17 4145.8 0.10 11 — — — WYM103 71449.1 263.4 0.08 10 — — — — — — WYM29 71879.3 277.9 0.03 16 4016.7 0.17 7 — — — WYM103 71450.3 263.9 0.06 11 — — — — — — CONT. — 238.8 — — 3743.8 — — 10.8 — — WYM103 71451.1 275.9 0.13 3 4033.3 0.13 5 10.5 0.29 4 WYM113 72759.6 — — — 3991.7 0.17 4 11.0 0.14 8 WYM113 72761.2 277.0 0.23 3 — — — 11.4 0.07 12 CONT. — 268.4 — — 3854.2 — — 10.2 — — WYM3 72479.5 — — — 4219.6 0.26 9 — — — WYM64 72486.2 360.0 0.11 8 4570.8 0.12 18 — — — WYM20 72487.2 — — — 4133.3 0.23 7 — — — WYM2 69654.2 345.0 0.25 4 4279.2 0.02 11 — — — WYM38 71693.5 356.7 0.17 7 4080.4 0.09 6 11.1 0.11 6 WYM38 71689.4 353.0 0.25 6 4162.5 0.04 8 — — — WYM3 72475.3 — — — 4472.0 0.02 16 — — — WYM3 72476.1 364.6 0.07 10 4495.8 L 16 — — — CONT. — 331.9 — — 3865.6 — — 10.5 — — LAB278_H0 71521.3 — — — — — — 11.0 0.25 4 WYM113 72762.7 — — — — — — 10.8 0.29 3 WYM85 71527.3 271.3 0.04 6 4133.3 0.15 5 — — — WYM29 71877.2 274.2 0.02 8 — — — 11.4 0.04 8 WYM20 72492.1 280.0 0.06 10 4000.0 0.29 2 11.6 0.03 10 WYM38 71690.2 276.7 0.02 9 4083.3 0.16 4 10.9 0.18 3 WYM64 72485.8 282.1 0.06 11 4354.2 0.05 11 10.9 0.13 4 CONT. — 254.7 — — 3918.8 — — 10.5 — — WYM3 72477.1 — — — 3862.5 0.21 4 — — — WYM103 71451.2 276.3 0.25 4 — — — — — — WYM3 72479.7 289.5 0.05 9 4072.0 0.05 10 — — — CONT. — 266.3 — — 3706.3 — — 11.2 — — WYM20 72491.5 — — — 4475.0 0.25 4 — — — WYM113 72762.1 — — — 4687.5 0.11 9 11.1 0.06 8 WYM12 71892.4 — — — 4626.2 0.15 7 10.6 0.23 4 WYM85 71529.3 — — — 4791.7 0.02 11 10.7 0.18 4 WYM12 71893.4 — — — 4783.3 0.05 11 10.6 0.22 4 WYM85 71528.4 — — — 4695.8 0.16 9 10.8 0.15 6 CONT. — 362.9 — — 4312.5 — — 10.2 — — LAB278_H0 71522.4 294.2 0.14 9 4183.3 0.09 8 — — — WYM12 71893.9 301.5 0.01 12 4355.4 0.02 13 — — — WYM38 71690.3 310.0 L 15 4475.0 L 16 11.0 0.10 7 WYM20 72491.6 298.8 0.01 11 4337.5 L 12 — — — WYM64 72481.7 325.7 0.02 21 4782.7 0.01 24 — — — WYM12 71895.1 282.1 0.07 5 4087.5 0.10 6 — — — WYM113 72761.4 287.1 0.17 7 4112.5 0.14 6 — — — CONT. — 269.5 — — 3864.3 — — 10.3 — — WYM12 71892.3 306.7 0.18 3 — — — — — — WYM38 71688.1 306.3 0.02 3 — — — — — — CONT. — 298.8 — — 4275.0 — — 10.7 — — WYM29 71876.3 — — — — — — 10.2 0.28 2 WYM3 72479.2 305.9 0.04 18 3941.7 0.24 5 10.9 0.07 10 WYM3 72475.4 274.6 0.02 6 4100.0 0.07 9 10.1 0.23 2 LAB278_H0 71521.5 291.7 0.07 13 4250.0 L 13 — — — LAB278_H0 71522.7 268.4 0.22 4 3941.7 0.20 5 — — — WYM38 71689.2 281.7 L 9 4054.2 0.05 8 10.9 L 9 CONT. — 259.1 — — 3765.6 — — 10.0 — — WYM3 72478.3 304.2 L 11 4537.5 L 15 10.7 0.26 3 WYM38 71689.6 277.9 0.24 1 4029.2 0.28 2 — — — WYM85 71527.5 296.1 0.12 8 4216.1 0.07 7 10.5 0.20 1 LAB278_H0 71521.2 282.1 0.11 3 4116.7 0.11 4 — — — CONT. — 274.4 — — 3946.9 — — 10.4 — — LAB278_H0 71522.3 — — — 4283.3 0.06 8 — — — CONT. — 327.0 — — 3970.0 — — 10.7 — — WYM29 71877.4 — — — — — — 10.9 L 3 WYM64 72485.4 — — — — — — 11.1 0.09 5 WYM64 72486.3 — — — — — — 10.7 0.26 1 WYM38 71688.2 372.5 0.05 11 4445.8 0.22 2 — — — CONT. — 334.4 — — 4362.5 — — 10.6 — — WYM113 72762.5 573.8 0.22 78 — — — 11.1 0.02 16 WYM20 72489.5 — — — — — — 10.2 0.13 6 WYM2 69650.2 — — — — — — 10.1 0.16 5 WYM29 71876.5 — — — — — — 10.8 0.03 13 WYM12 71896.5 — — — — — — 10.9 0.06 13 WYM64 72485.2 — — — — — — 10.3 0.14 6 WYM85 71526.3 — — — 4262.5 0.28 4 10.7 0.06 11 WYM113 72762.4 — — — — — — 10.5 0.17 9 CONT. — 322.1 — — 4107.2 — — 9.6 — — WYM103 71452.3 — — — 3991.7 0.19 4 11.3 L 12 WYM64 72485.10 — — — — — — 10.2 0.23 1 WYM3 72479.9 294.2 0.22 11 — — — 11.2 L 11 WYM113 72762.3 — — — — — — 11.0 0.02 9 WYM85 71526.5 — — — 3970.8 0.28 3 10.8 0.09 8 WYM103 71450.5 — — — 3962.5 0.26 3 11.1 L 11 CONT. — 266.0 — — 3845.1 — — 10.0 — — WYM42 69677.3 150.1 0.29 14 — — — — — — LYM350 69417.1 156.3 0.25 19 1354.2 0.23 9 11.0 L 6 WYM42 69679.5 155.9 0.22 19 1420.8 0.26 14 10.7 0.16 3 LYM350 69418.3 140.9 0.24 7 — — — — — — LYM350 69418.6 144.2 0.24 10 — — — — — — LYM350 69418.5 — — — — — — 10.7 0.18 3 WYM42 69677.1 141.3 0.18 7 — — — — — — CONT. — 131.5 — — 1244.6 — — 10.4 — — WYM72 70043.1 135.8 0.21 6 1533.3 0.27 6 10.1 0.09 4 WYM91 70012.10 154.2 0.17 20 1733.3 0.09 20 10.2 0.21 5 WYM72 70043.5 162.9 L 27 1718.5 L 19 10.0 0.12 3 WYM43 69949.7 150.4 L 17 1679.2 0.11 16 10.0 0.12 3 WYM91 70011.7 136.5 0.29 6 1513.9 0.25 5 — — — WYM72 70045.9 — — — — — — 10.0 0.18 4 WYM23 69658.2 145.7 0.03 13 1635.1 0.05 13 10.5 L 8 WYM67 70023.2 171.7 0.03 33 1922.6 L 33 10.8 L 12 WYM43 69947.4 139.2 0.22 8 1587.5 0.24 10 10.5 0.03 8 WYM91 70012.4 142.1 0.28 10 — — — — — — WYM43 69949.3 141.7 0.09 10 1695.8 0.12 17 10.1 0.02 4 WYM91 70012.7 159.6 0.07 24 1845.8 0.07 28 10.6 L 9 WYM72 70044.3 139.6 0.22 8 1570.8 0.22 9 10.2 0.10 5 WYM23 69656.1 — — — — — — 9.8 0.27 2 WYM43 69947.5 138.8 0.29 8 — — — 10.2 0.08 5 WYM72 70043.7 145.8 0.13 13 1716.7 0.09 19 10.5 0.03 8 WYM67 70022.3 — — — — — — 10.0 0.14 3 WYM23 69658.4 145.4 0.30 13 1616.7 0.30 12 10.0 0.11 4 WYM72 70045.2 — — — 1546.4 0.20 7 — — — WYM72 70044.1 — — — 1519.4 0.25 5 10.1 L 4 WYM72 70045.3 — — — 1511.8 0.17 5 10.0 0.17 3 WYM43 69944.4 138.8 0.25 8 1579.2 0.22 9 10.4 L 8 WYM67 70022.10 — — — 1586.3 0.28 10 — — — WYM43 69949.10 140.9 0.06 9 1658.3 0.04 15 10.4 L 7 WYM67 70023.1 157.0 L 22 1776.8 0.04 23 10.3 0.19 6 WYM23 69657.4 151.3 0.04 18 1716.7 0.05 19 9.9 0.09 2 WYM72 70043.2 148.3 0.19 15 1675.0 0.16 16 10.6 0.13 9 WYM43 69949.6 132.5 0.29 3 — — — 10.3 0.12 7 WYM67 70022.2 — — — 1591.7 0.27 10 10.0 0.18 3 WYM67 70023.3 — — — 1595.8 0.15 10 10.0 0.08 4 WYM23 69660.3 — — — 1591.7 0.20 10 — — — WYM23 69661.4 — — — — — — 10.2 0.09 5 WYM23 69661.7 142.1 0.10 10 1629.2 0.12 13 10.3 0.01 6 WYM43 69949.11 169.4 0.17 32 1601.2 0.23 11 — — — CONT. — 128.7 — — 1446.0 — — 9.7 — — WYM74 69531.2 — — — 1329.2 0.26 7 — — — WYM74 69531.3 128.3 0.21 7 1307.7 0.25 5 — — — WYM74 69535.2 123.8 0.26 3 — — — — — — WYM69 69528.5 124.2 0.30 3 — — — — — — WYM69 69529.2 127.5 0.11 6 — — — — — — CONT. — 120.2 — — 1246.7 — — 10.6 — — Table 60. “CONT.” - Control; “Ave.” - Average; “% Incr.” = % increment; “p-val.” - p-value, L - p <0.01.

TABLE 61 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter Rosette Area [cm²] Rosette Diameter [cm] Gene Name Event # Ave. P-Val. % Incr. Ave. P-Val. % Incr. LAB259 69401.8 8.3 0.02 28 5.2 L 18 WYM18 70938.3 9.0 L 39 5.3 L 20 WYM86 70919.5 7.4 0.24 14 4.7 0.26 6 WYM30 69672.2 8.4 0.05 29 5.1 0.05 14 WYM83 70956.7 8.1 0.03 26 5.1 0.04 14 WYM83 70953.1 9.2 L 42 5.4 L 21 WYM105 70931.3 7.7 0.06 19 4.9 0.07 10 CONT. — 6.5 — — 4.4 — — WYM48 69972.5 7.8 L 32 4.8 0.02 14 WYM105 70928.1 6.3 0.23 6 4.4 0.26 4 WYM86 70917.3 8.5 L 43 5.0 0.01 19 WYM32 70412.2 6.5 0.10 10 4.4 0.22 5 LAB259 69400.1 7.4 0.01 24 4.9 0.02 15 WYM30 69668.2 6.4 0.17 8 4.5 0.15 6 LYM91 69394.5 6.4 0.16 8 4.5 0.11 7 CONT. — 5.9 — — 4.2 — — WYM61 69974.2 7.8 0.21 8 4.8 0.24 4 WYM83 70951.3 7.7 0.28 7 — — — WYM86 70918.6 9.0 0.03 26 5.2 0.03 14 WYM105 70930.2 8.6 0.06 20 5.0 0.09 9 WYM32 70415.2 8.2 0.11 14 — — — WYM18 70938.6 8.8 0.04 23 5.1 0.07 10 WYM83 70951.4 10.1 L 41 5.6 L 20 CONT. — 7.2 — — 4.6 — — WYM86 70919.2 7.6 0.11 10 4.8 0.05 8 WYM87 70960.8 7.6 0.11 11 4.9 0.08 10 WYM32 70414.3 8.3 0.01 20 5.0 L 13 WYM32 70413.2 8.0 0.03 17 4.9 L 10 WYM83 70956.5 7.6 0.15 11 4.8 0.12 8 WYM30 69672.4 8.2 0.01 20 5.0 L 13 LYM91 69395.2 7.8 0.04 14 4.8 0.03 8 CONT. — 6.9 — — 4.4 — — WYM30 69673.2 — — — 5.3 0.30 3 WYM61 69977.2 — — — 5.3 0.19 3 WYM18 70938.7 11.3 0.02 21 5.7 0.04 11 WYM87 70960.3 9.8 0.23 5 5.4 0.11 4 WYM32 70416.3 — — — 5.3 0.13 4 CONT. — 9.3 — — 5.1 — — WYM105 70932.10 6.5 0.28 5 4.5 0.19 3 WYM87 70961.6 — — — 4.4 0.25 2 LYM91 69395.1 — — — 4.5 0.21 3 WYM87 70961.7 — — — 4.5 0.18 3 WYM105 70930.1 6.6 0.26 6 — — — WYM30 69672.1 — — — 4.5 0.23 3 LAB259 69401.1 7.1 0.06 14 4.9 L 13 CONT. — 6.2 — — 4.3 — — WYM32 70417.1 7.5 0.01 20 4.9 0.02 13 WYM86 70919.1 6.8 0.10 8 4.7 0.06 8 WYM83 70953.2 7.2 0.18 15 4.7 0.20 8 WYM83 70956.1 7.1 0.03 14 4.7 0.06 8 WYM86 70920.1 8.0 L 28 5.0 L 16 CONT. — 6.2 — — 4.3 — — WYM48 69972.3 7.9 0.19 6 5.0 0.16 4 LYM91 69392.6 8.0 0.28 9 5.0 0.26 4 WYM48 69968.1 8.2 0.09 12 5.2 0.04 8 LAB259 69399.7 8.3 0.06 13 5.1 0.11 6 LAB259 69401.6 8.4 0.06 14 5.2 0.04 8 CONT. — 7.4 — — 4.8 — — WYM48 69968.4 8.2 0.06 15 4.9 0.12 5 WYM32 70415.3 8.1 0.11 14 5.0 0.18 6 WYM87 70961.8 7.8 0.02 9 4.9 0.07 4 WYM18 70938.1 7.4 0.11 4 4.8 0.14 2 WYM48 69973.4 7.7 0.05 8 4.9 0.03 4 CONT. — 7.1 — — 4.7 — — WYM18 70937.3 8.8 0.10 11 5.2 0.08 6 WYM32 70416.11 10.3 L 31 5.7 L 16 WYM30 69670.3 8.5 0.18 7 5.2 0.18 5 WYM61 69978.2 9.3 0.03 17 5.5 0.04 12 WYM18 70938.5 9.4 0.10 18 5.4 0.05 10 CONT. — 7.9 — — 4.9 — — WYM105 70931.1 9.0 0.17 20 5.0 0.16 12 WYM48 69970.4 8.5 0.19 14 4.9 0.18 9 LAB259 69402.1 8.0 0.18 7 4.7 0.13 4 LYM91 69395.3 9.9 0.01 33 5.2 0.03 15 WYM32 70416.4 8.9 0.05 20 5.0 0.03 11 WYM87 70962.5 10.5 0.01 40 5.4 0.01 20 WYM61 69979.4 9.7 0.04 30 5.3 0.03 18 WYM87 70960.2 8.8 0.19 19 4.9 0.18 9 CONT. — 7.5 — — 4.5 — — WYM83 70956.4 7.3 0.03 13 4.6 0.03 9 WYM86 70917.2 7.0 0.11 10 4.6 0.05 10 WYM61 69977.1 7.1 0.13 11 4.6 0.02 11 WYM30 69670.2 7.4 L 16 4.6 0.03 9 LAB259 69399.6 8.8 L 38 5.0 L 19 WYM61 69977.4 7.8 L 21 4.7 0.02 12 WYM30 69670.1 8.6 L 33 4.8 L 16 LYM91 69394.2 7.0 0.12 9 4.4 0.07 6 CONT. — 6.4 — — 4.2 — — WYM105 70928.2 8.1 0.11 14 5.0 0.12 9 WYM86 70918.7 8.2 0.05 15 5.1 0.04 11 LAB259 69403.2 7.5 0.21 6 4.7 0.26 3 WYM18 70937.11 8.7 0.02 22 5.0 0.06 9 CONT. — 7.1 — — 4.6 — — WYM48 69973.1 8.1 0.06 16 5.1 0.04 11 WYM86 70920.4 7.3 0.28 4 4.8 0.14 4 WYM48 69973.5 8.0 0.10 14 5.0 0.06 8 WYM32 70416.6 7.7 0.10 10 4.8 0.13 4 LYM91 69392.4 8.0 0.04 15 5.1 0.02 10 CONT. — 7.0 — — 4.6 — — WYM62 71467.5 10.6 0.07 15 5.7 0.10 7 LYM490_H1 71155.4 11.1 0.04 21 5.8 0.05 10 CONT. — 9.2 — — 5.3 — — LYM490_H1 71158.3 8.5 0.29 4 — — — CONT. — 8.2 — — 5.0 — — WYM35 71163.1 8.8 0.04 15 5.3 0.04 8 WYM90 71891.2 8.5 0.08 11 5.2 0.09 7 CONT. — 7.6 — — 4.9 — — WYM46 71151.1 — — — 4.7 0.27 3 WYM71 72158.1 — — — 4.6 0.15 2 CONT. — 6.8 — — 4.5 — — WYM112 69928.3 9.3 0.03 28 5.3 0.01 15 LYM490_H1 71155.2 7.8 0.25 7 4.8 0.18 4 WYM34 71768.2 8.0 0.17 11 5.0 0.09 7 WYM34 71769.1 9.1 0.03 25 5.2 0.02 12 WYM28 71457.2 8.1 0.16 12 5.0 0.08 7 WYM71 72162.1 7.9 0.21 9 5.0 0.05 8 CONT. — 7.3 — — 4.6 — — WYM35 71166.2 8.9 0.29 5 — — — CONT. — 8.5 — — 5.2 — — WYM112 69928.1 — — — 5.3 0.26 4 WYM21 71763.3 10.0 0.02 23 5.5 0.04 9 CONT. — 8.1 — — 5.1 — — WYM62 71467.7 8.8 0.04 8 5.3 0.02 5 WYM21 71761.1 8.8 0.07 7 5.3 0.11 4 WYM35 71161.1 — — — 5.2 0.12 2 CONT. — 8.2 — — 5.1 — — WYM21 71762.6 8.6 0.01 10 5.4 L 8 WYM46 71150.8 8.2 0.29 4 5.1 0.21 2 CONT. — 7.9 — — 5.0 — — WYM90 71889.1 9.0 0.06 11 5.4 0.09 5 WYM112 69926.4 8.4 0.28 4 5.3 0.21 3 CONT. — 8.1 — — 5.1 — — WYM35 71162.9 9.1 0.06 17 5.3 0.07 8 WYM90 71888.2 8.2 0.27 5 — — — CONT. — 7.8 — — 4.9 — — LYM490_H1 71156.2 7.1 0.05 6 4.7 0.10 4 WYM96 71174.1 7.5 0.06 11 4.7 0.12 4 WYM34 71766.1 6.8 0.29 1 — — — WYM90 71888.1 8.0 0.02 20 4.9 0.01 8 WYM71 72160.5 7.1 0.15 6 — — — CONT. — 6.7 — — 4.5 — — WYM71 72162.2 8.7 0.17 5 5.3 0.07 4 CONT. — 8.2 — — 5.1 — — WYM79 69537.4 6.9 0.02 47 4.5 0.01 21 WYM70 70034.6 6.1 0.03 30 4.2 0.02 13 WYM79 69537.3 6.0 L 29 4.2 L 13 WYM24 69663.3 5.7 L 22 4.3 L 14 LYM320 69406.3 5.5 0.06 17 4.0 0.09 7 WYM79 69537.2 5.3 0.11 14 4.1 0.02 10 WYM93 69690.2 5.8 L 24 4.2 L 11 WYM94 69628.3 5.9 0.05 26 4.3 0.05 14 CONT. — 4.7 — — 3.7 — — WYM94 69631.1 5.1 0.21 5 3.9 0.08 3 WYM24 69667.7 6.5 0.03 34 4.4 0.04 17 WYM79 69536.2 5.4 0.06 13 4.1 0.05 9 WYM31 69730.9 5.2 0.22 7 4.0 0.07 5 WYM15 69495.5 5.6 0.07 17 4.1 0.09 8 WYM70 70034.2 6.1 L 27 4.3 L 12 WYM31 69730.7 5.6 0.02 16 4.2 0.02 10 WYM15 69497.4 5.2 0.21 7 4.0 0.14 5 CONT. — 4.8 — — 3.8 — — WYM94 69629.2 5.4 0.06 11 4.1 0.10 6 WYM15 69495.4 5.3 0.11 9 4.1 0.13 5 CONT. — 4.9 — — 3.9 — — WYM31 69731.1 5.3 0.17 9 4.0 0.24 4 WYM94 69631.2 5.9 0.11 22 4.3 0.07 13 WYM31 69730.4 5.3 0.13 9 4.1 0.05 7 LYM320 69409.1 5.7 0.03 18 4.1 0.04 8 WYM65 69521.1 5.1 0.21 6 3.9 0.19 3 WYM65 69520.1 — — — 3.9 0.26 3 WYM70 70038.1 5.3 0.12 9 4.0 0.11 4 CONT. — 4.8 — — 3.8 — — WYM55 69509.6 — — — 4.0 0.28 2 WYM15 69497.2 5.7 0.20 15 4.1 0.24 6 WYM15 69499.5 5.5 0.14 11 4.2 0.06 8 WYM93 69686.1 5.7 0.09 14 4.2 0.09 7 WYM15 69495.2 6.5 0.03 31 4.5 0.02 16 WYM70 70039.2 5.4 0.24 9 4.1 0.25 4 WYM79 69541.2 6.7 0.02 34 4.5 0.01 16 WYM55 69509.5 5.8 0.09 17 4.2 0.08 8 CONT. — 5.0 — — 3.9 — — WYM31 69729.1 5.8 0.14 11 4.2 0.17 5 WYM93 69686.2 5.5 0.29 6 4.2 0.22 3 WYM70 70039.7 6.2 0.03 19 4.4 0.02 9 LYM320 69406.1 6.3 0.02 21 4.2 0.07 5 WYM65 69519.5 5.7 0.14 9 4.1 0.18 3 WYM65 69520.4 5.8 0.12 10 4.3 0.10 6 CONT. — 5.2 — — 4.0 — — WYM24 69664.1 5.5 0.19 9 4.1 0.24 4 WYM22 69504.6 5.4 0.17 8 — — — WYM93 69686.4 5.3 0.10 6 4.1 0.24 2 CONT. — 5.0 — — 4.0 — — WYM24 69667.12 5.2 0.25 5 4.1 0.25 3 WYM94 69626.6 5.1 0.30 3 — — — CONT. — 5.0 — — 4.0 — — WYM31 69729.3 4.7 0.24 3 3.7 0.25 2 WYM94 69628.1 4.8 0.19 6 — — — WYM65 69519.3 — — — 3.8 0.05 4 WYM94 69629.3 5.0 0.12 11 3.9 0.18 6 CONT. — 4.5 — — 3.7 — — WYM65 69523.2 — — — 3.8 0.17 3 WYM79 69538.3 4.7 0.28 4 — — — WYM79 69538.1 5.0 0.14 10 3.9 0.13 5 CONT. — 4.5 — — 3.7 — — WYM24 69662.2 6.5 0.03 27 4.5 0.01 13 WYM94 69630.1 6.1 0.04 19 4.3 0.07 7 WYM24 69662.1 6.1 0.07 20 4.3 0.12 8 WYM93 69688.1 6.5 L 27 4.5 L 13 WYM79 69539.4 5.9 0.11 15 4.3 0.13 8 WYM22 69500.8 6.1 0.08 20 4.3 0.16 7 WYM70 70034.7 6.0 0.14 17 4.2 0.21 6 CONT. — 5.1 — — 4.0 — — WYM55 69507.2 6.2 0.08 14 4.5 0.05 7 WYM79 69536.1 5.9 0.17 8 4.3 0.16 4 WYM70 70039.6 6.7 0.02 23 4.6 0.03 10 WYM22 69504.2 6.4 0.05 17 4.6 0.04 9 LYM320 69405.3 6.0 0.19 11 4.3 0.21 4 CONT. — 5.4 — — 4.2 — — LYM208_H4 69488.5 10.4 0.27 5 5.6 0.20 3 WYM16 69883.9 11.4 L 15 5.8 L 8 WYM25 69725.4 — — — 5.6 0.25 4 WYM16 69883.4 10.8 0.20 9 5.6 0.19 5 LYM208_H4 69489.1 11.4 0.14 15 5.9 0.14 9 WYM25 69726.1 10.8 0.05 9 5.7 0.10 6 WYM81 69542.6 10.7 0.08 8 5.6 0.11 5 WYM25 69725.7 10.5 0.29 6 5.6 0.21 4 WYM81 69542.3 11.2 0.22 13 5.8 0.20 7 WYM25 69724.1 12.6 0.06 27 6.1 0.05 13 WYM25 69726.5 12.0 0.01 21 5.9 0.02 9 LYM208_H4 69488.1 10.7 0.10 7 5.5 0.24 3 CONT. — 9.9 — — 5.4 — — WYM64 72486.1 7.4 0.05 9 4.6 0.02 8 WYM85 71526.6 7.8 L 15 4.6 0.02 8 WYM29 71879.3 — — — 4.4 0.14 3 WYM103 71450.3 7.1 0.21 4 4.4 0.16 4 CONT. — 6.8 — — 4.3 — — WYM113 72759.3 7.1 0.23 9 4.5 0.22 5 WYM103 71451.1 7.4 0.15 12 4.4 0.18 4 WYM113 72759.6 7.0 0.26 8 4.4 0.20 4 WYM113 72761.2 7.7 0.09 18 4.5 0.10 6 CONT. — 6.5 — — 4.3 — — WYM3 72479.5 — — — 4.4 0.29 3 CONT. — 6.8 — — 4.3 — — WYM85 71527.3 7.0 0.23 9 4.3 0.19 5 WYM20 72492.1 7.7 0.05 21 4.5 0.05 10 WYM38 71690.2 7.3 0.02 14 4.5 0.02 10 WYM64 72485.8 7.1 0.08 11 4.4 0.08 6 CONT. — 6.4 — — 4.1 — — WYM3 72477.1 8.0 0.06 10 4.9 0.03 8 CONT. — 7.3 — — 4.5 — — WYM113 72762.1 6.9 0.20 6 4.3 0.18 3 WYM85 71529.3 7.2 0.09 11 4.5 0.05 8 WYM12 71893.4 6.9 0.30 7 4.4 0.16 6 WYM85 71528.4 7.0 0.12 8 4.4 0.07 5 CONT. — 6.5 — — 4.2 — — LAB278_H0 71522.4 — — — 4.2 0.19 5 WYM12 71893.9 — — — 4.1 0.26 3 WYM38 71690.3 7.3 0.02 23 4.5 L 13 WYM20 72491.6 6.3 0.25 6 4.2 0.07 6 WYM64 72481.7 6.9 0.04 17 4.4 0.01 11 CONT. — 5.9 — — 4.0 — — WYM103 71452.1 6.4 0.26 2 — — — WYM12 71892.3 6.5 0.16 4 — — — CONT. — 6.3 — — 4.2 — — WYM3 72479.2 7.0 0.03 19 4.3 0.06 9 WYM3 72475.4 6.2 0.05 7 4.1 0.06 3 LAB278_H0 71521.5 — — — 4.1 0.29 2 LAB278_H0 71522.7 6.3 0.21 7 4.2 0.16 4 WYM38 71689.2 6.2 0.15 7 4.2 0.11 4 CONT. — 5.8 — — 4.0 — — WYM3 72478.3 7.4 0.07 10 4.5 0.08 4 CONT. — 6.7 — — 4.3 — — WYM64 72481.2 — — — 4.5 0.11 4 CONT. — 6.8 — — 4.3 — — WYM64 72485.4 — — — 4.6 0.11 3 CONT. — 7.2 — — 4.4 — — WYM113 72762.5 5.9 0.26 3 4.0 0.16 2 WYM20 72489.5 6.5 0.05 13 4.2 0.06 7 WYM29 71876.5 6.1 0.11 7 4.2 0.08 6 WYM12 71896.5 6.5 0.07 14 4.1 0.10 5 WYM64 72485.2 6.5 0.04 13 4.2 L 7 WYM85 71526.3 6.9 L 20 4.3 L 10 WYM113 72762.4 6.4 0.08 12 4.2 L 6 CONT. — 5.7 — — 3.9 — — WYM103 71452.3 6.4 0.16 7 4.2 0.14 4 WYM3 72479.9 6.7 0.07 12 4.2 0.13 4 WYM85 71526.5 6.2 0.30 5 4.1 0.21 3 WYM103 71450.5 6.2 0.22 5 4.1 0.30 2 CONT. — 5.9 — — 4.0 — — LYM350 69417.1 12.5 0.04 10 6.4 0.05 9 LYM350 69418.6 — — — 6.1 0.23 5 LYM350 69421.2 12.8 0.16 12 6.2 0.15 7 CONT. — 11.4 — — 5.9 — — WYM67 70022.7 9.6 0.04 8 5.2 0.11 3 WYM72 70043.1 10.1 0.06 14 5.4 0.07 8 WYM91 70012.10 10.7 0.01 21 5.6 0.01 12 WYM72 70043.5 9.9 0.18 12 — — — WYM43 69949.7 10.7 0.03 21 5.7 0.03 13 WYM91 70011.7 9.4 0.20 5 5.1 0.25 2 WYM72 70045.9 9.9 0.20 11 5.3 0.13 6 WYM91 70011.4 9.5 0.25 7 5.4 0.14 7 WYM23 69658.2 10.8 L 22 5.7 L 14 WYM67 70023.2 12.2 0.02 37 6.0 0.04 19 WYM43 69945.2 10.4 0.06 17 5.5 0.10 10 WYM43 69947.4 10.5 0.06 18 5.4 0.10 8 WYM91 70012.4 9.7 0.19 9 5.4 0.15 7 WYM43 69949.3 11.2 0.04 26 5.9 0.02 17 WYM91 70012.7 12.2 L 37 5.9 L 18 WYM72 70044.3 10.0 0.06 12 5.3 0.05 6 WYM23 69656.1 9.5 0.25 7 5.3 0.18 6 WYM43 69947.5 10.3 0.08 16 5.5 0.06 10 WYM72 70043.7 12.0 0.04 35 5.9 0.05 18 WYM23 69659.1 10.2 0.21 14 5.3 0.26 5 WYM23 69658.4 10.2 0.20 15 5.4 0.21 8 WYM72 70045.2 9.7 L 9 5.3 0.07 5 WYM72 70044.1 9.8 0.11 10 5.4 0.08 8 WYM43 69944.4 10.8 L 21 5.9 L 18 WYM43 69949.10 10.9 0.03 22 5.6 0.04 12 WYM67 70023.1 11.0 0.06 24 5.7 0.05 13 WYM23 69657.4 10.5 L 18 5.7 L 13 WYM72 70043.2 11.5 0.06 29 5.7 0.07 13 WYM43 69949.6 10.2 0.05 15 5.4 0.02 8 WYM67 70023.3 10.5 0.03 18 5.5 0.10 9 WYM23 69660.3 11.0 0.05 24 5.6 0.05 11 WYM23 69661.4 10.3 0.08 16 5.5 0.03 10 WYM23 69661.7 10.8 L 22 5.5 0.06 10 WYM43 69949.11 9.7 0.04 9 5.3 0.05 6 CONT. — 8.9 — — 5.0 — — WYM69 69529.4 — — — 5.9 0.21 2 CONT. — 11.0 — — 5.8 — — Table 61. “CONT.” - Control; “Ave.” - Average; “% Incr.” = % increment; “p-val.” - p-value, L - p <0.01.

TABLE 62 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter GR Of Rosette Diameter [cm/day] Gene Name Event # Ave. P-Val. % Incr. LAB259 69401.8 0.4 0.02 19 WYM18 70938.3 0.4 0.01 22 WYM30 69672.2 0.4 0.10 16 WYM83 70956.7 0.4 0.09 16 WYM83 70953.1 0.4 0.01 24 WYM105 70931.3 0.4 0.27 9 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM48 69972.5 0.4 0.03 16 WYM86 70917.3 0.4 L 22 LAB259 69400.1 0.4 0.01 19 WYM30 69668.2 0.4 0.10 11 LYM91 69394.5 0.4 0.07 12 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM86 70918.6 0.4 0.10 14 WYM83 70951.4 0.4 0.03 19 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM86 70919.2 0.4 0.14 9 WYM87 70960.8 0.4 0.14 11 WYM32 70414.3 0.4 0.06 11 WYM32 70413.2 0.4 0.06 12 WYM83 70956.5 0.4 0.13 11 WYM30 69672.4 0.4 0.02 14 LYM91 69395.2 0.4 0.06 11 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM18 70938.7 0.5 0.21 10 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM105  70932.10 0.4 0.29 7 LYM91 69395.1 0.4 0.25 7 WYM87 70961.7 0.4 0.24 8 WYM30 69672.1 0.4 0.25 7 LAB259 69401.1 0.4 L 19 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM32 70417.1 0.4 0.01 18 WYM86 70919.1 0.4 0.11 10 WYM83 70956.1 0.4 0.08 11 WYM86 70920.1 0.4 L 20 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM48 69968.1 0.4 0.13 10 LAB259 69401.6 0.4 0.11 9 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM32 70415.3 0.4 0.25 8 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM18 70937.3 0.4 0.29 7 WYM32  70416.11 0.5 0.03 16 WYM61 69978.2 0.4 0.15 10 WYM18 70938.5 0.4 0.21 9 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM48 69970.4 0.4 0.24 12 LYM91 69395.3 0.4 0.06 15 WYM32 70416.4 0.4 0.23 9 WYM87 70962.5 0.4 0.06 17 WYM61 69979.4 0.4 0.06 16 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM83 70956.4 0.4 0.12 10 WYM86 70917.2 0.4 0.14 11 WYM61 69977.1 0.4 0.07 12 WYM30 69670.2 0.4 0.10 11 LAB259 69399.6 0.4 L 19 WYM61 69977.4 0.4 0.03 14 WYM30 69670.1 0.4 0.06 14 LYM91 69394.2 0.3 0.21 8 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM105 70928.2 0.4 0.16 11 WYM86 70918.7 0.4 0.08 12 WYM18  70937.11 0.4 0.21 8 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM48 69973.1 0.4 0.04 14 WYM86 70920.4 0.4 0.23 7 WYM48 69973.5 0.4 0.16 9 WYM32 70416.6 0.4 0.22 7 LYM91 69392.4 0.4 0.01 16 CONT. — 0.4 — — LYM490_H1 71155.4 0.5 0.16 11 CONT. — 0.5 — — WYM35 71163.1 0.5 0.25 8 WYM90 71891.2 0.5 0.28 8 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM112 69928.3 0.5 0.10 13 WYM34 71768.2 0.4 0.26 9 WYM34 71769.1 0.5 0.09 13 WYM71 72162.1 0.4 0.28 8 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM21 71763.3 0.5 0.30 9 CONT. — 0.5 — — WYM35 71162.9 0.5 0.24 9 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM90 71888.1 0.4 0.26 8 CONT. — 0.4 — — WYM79 69537.4 0.4 L 21 WYM70 70034.6 0.3 0.01 12 WYM79 69537.3 0.3 L 12 WYM24 69663.3 0.3 L 14 LYM320 69406.3 0.3 0.07 9 WYM79 69537.2 0.3 L 12 WYM93 69690.2 0.3 L 11 WYM94 69628.3 0.3 0.06 12 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM24 69667.7 0.3 0.02 16 WYM79 69536.2 0.3 0.13 7 WYM31 69730.9 0.3 0.22 6 WYM15 69495.5 0.3 0.10 10 WYM70 70034.2 0.3 L 12 WYM31 69730.7 0.3 0.02 12 WYM15 69497.4 0.3 0.17 8 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM94 69631.2 0.3 0.11 11 WYM31 69730.4 0.3 0.29 5 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM15 69499.5 0.3 0.09 9 WYM93 69686.1 0.3 0.15 7 WYM15 69495.2 0.4 L 18 WYM79 69541.2 0.4 L 16 WYM55 69509.5 0.3 0.11 8 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM70 70039.7 0.4 0.06 10 WYM65 69520.4 0.3 0.20 8 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM31 69729.3 0.3 0.29 4 WYM65 69519.3 0.3 0.14 5 WYM94 69629.3 0.3 0.07 9 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM65 69523.2 0.3 0.11 8 WYM79 69538.1 0.3 0.13 7 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM24 69662.2 0.4 0.01 12 WYM94 69630.1 0.3 0.13 7 WYM24 69662.1 0.3 0.22 6 WYM93 69688.1 0.3 0.02 9 WYM79 69539.4 0.3 0.23 6 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM55 69507.2 0.4 0.28 6 WYM70 70039.6 0.4 0.25 6 WYM22 69504.2 0.4 0.21 7 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM64 72486.1 0.3 0.13 9 WYM85 71526.6 0.3 0.09 10 WYM29 71879.3 0.3 0.22 8 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM20 72492.1 0.3 0.12 10 WYM38 71690.2 0.3 0.03 11 WYM64 72485.8 0.3 0.16 8 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM3 72477.1 0.4 0.10 10 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM85 71529.3 0.3 0.29 8 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM38 71690.3 0.3 0.11 13 WYM20 72491.6 0.3 0.20 10 WYM64 72481.7 0.3 0.04 16 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM3 72478.3 0.3 0.29 6 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM64 72485.4 0.3 0.18 8 CONT. — 0.3 — — WYM64 72485.2 0.3 0.18 7 WYM85 71526.3 0.3 0.21 7 CONT. — 0.3 — — LYM350 69417.1 0.6 0.18 10 CONT. — 0.5 — — WYM43 69949.7 0.4 0.20 14 WYM23 69658.2 0.4 0.14 15 WYM67 70023.2 0.5 0.03 24 WYM43 69949.3 0.5 0.04 22 WYM91 70012.7 0.4 0.06 19 WYM72 70043.7 0.4 0.10 18 WYM72 70044.1 0.4 0.17 14 WYM43 69944.4 0.5 0.05 21 WYM43  69949.10 0.4 0.08 19 WYM67 70023.1 0.4 0.17 15 WYM23 69657.4 0.4 0.12 16 WYM72 70043.2 0.4 0.22 13 WYM23 69660.3 0.4 0.16 15 WYM23 69661.7 0.4 0.21 13 CONT. — 0.4 — — Table 62. “CONT.”—Control; “Ave.”—Average; “% Incr.”= % increment; “p-val.”—p-value, L—p < 0.01.

Example 20 Evaluating Transgenic Arabidopsis Under Normal Conditions Using In Vitro Assays [Tissue Culture T2 and T1 Plants, TC-T2 and TC-T1 Assays]

Surface sterilized seeds were sown in basal media [50% Murashige-Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 0.8% plant agar as solidifying agent] in the presence of Kanamycin (used as a selecting agent). After sowing, plates were transferred for 2-3 days for stratification at 4° C. and then grown at 25° C. under 12-hour light 12-hour dark daily cycles for 7 to 10 days. At this time point, seedlings randomly chosen were carefully transferred to plates containing ½ MS media (15 mM N). For experiments performed in T₂ lines, each plate contained 5 seedlings of the same transgenic event, and 3-4 different plates (replicates) for each event. For each polynucleotide of the invention at least four-five independent transformation events were analyzed from each construct. For experiments performed in T₁ lines, each plate contained 5 seedlings of 5 independent transgenic events and 3-4 different plates (replicates) were planted. In total, for T₁ lines, 20 independent events were evaluated. Plants expressing the polynucleotides of the invention were compared to the average measurement of the control plants (transformed with an empty vector containing the selection marker or GUS reporter gene under the control of the same promoter) used in the same experiment.

Digital imaging—A laboratory image acquisition system, which consists of a digital reflex camera (Canon EOS 300D) attached with a 55 mm focal length lens (Canon EF-S series), mounted on a reproduction device (Kaiser RS), which includes 4 light units (4×150 Watts light bulb) and located in a darkroom, was used for capturing images of plantlets sawn in agar plates.

The image capturing process was repeated every 3-4 days starting at day 1 till day 10 (see for example the images in FIGS. 3A-3F). An image analysis system was used, which consists of a personal desktop computer (Intel P43.0 GHz processor) and a public domain program—ImageJ 1.39 [Java based image processing program which was developed at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and freely available on the internet at Hypertext Transfer Protocol://rsbweb (dot) nih (dot) gov/]. Images were captured in resolution of 10 Mega Pixels (3888×2592 pixels) and stored in a low compression JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group standard) format. Next, analyzed data was saved to text files and processed using the JMP statistical analysis software (SAS institute).

Seedling analysis—Using the digital analysis seedling data was calculated, including leaf area, root coverage and root length.

The growth rate for the various seedling parameters was calculated according to the following formulas XXI (GR leaf area, below), XXII (GR root coverage, described below) and XXIII (GR root length, below).

Growth rate of leaf area=Regression coefficient of leaf area along time course.  Formula XXI:

Growth rate of root coverage=Regression coefficient of root coverage along time course.  Formula XXII:

Growth rate of root length=Regression coefficient of root length along time course.  Formula XXIII:

At the end of the experiment, plantlets were removed from the media and weighed for the determination of plant fresh weight. Plantlets were then dried for 24 hours at 60° C., and weighed again to measure plant dry weight for later statistical analysis. The fresh and dry weights were provided for each Arabidopsis plant. Growth rate was determined by comparing the leaf area coverage, root coverage and root length, between each couple of sequential photographs, and results were used to resolve the effect of the gene introduced on plant vigor under optimal conditions. Similarly, the effect of the gene introduced on biomass accumulation, under optimal conditions, was determined by comparing the plants' fresh and dry weight to that of control plants (containing an empty vector or the GUS reporter gene under the same promoter). From every construct created, 3-5 independent transformation events were examined in replicates.

Statistical analyses—To identify genes conferring significantly improved plant vigor or enlarged root architecture, the results obtained from the transgenic plants were compared to those obtained from control plants. To identify outperforming genes and constructs, results from the independent transformation events tested were analyzed separately. To evaluate the effect of a gene event over a control the data was analyzed by Student's t-test and the p value was calculated. Results were considered significant if p<0.1. The JMP statistics software package is used (Version 5.2.1, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, N.C., USA).

Experimental Results:

Tables 63-65 summarize the observed phenotypes of transgenic plants expressing the gene constructs using the TC-T2 Assays.

The genes presented in Table 63 showed a significant improvement as they produced larger plant biomass (plant fresh and dry weight) in T2 generation when grown under normal growth conditions, compared to control plants. The genes were cloned under the regulation of a constitutive promoter (At6669, SEQ ID NO:9405).

The evaluation of each gene was carried out by testing the performance of different number of events. Some of the genes were evaluated in more than one tissue culture assay. The results obtained in these second experiments were significantly positive as well.

TABLE 63 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Gene Event P- % P- % Name # Ave. Val. Incr. Ave. Val. Incr. WYM40 71881.6 6.1 0.22 18 142.5 0.13 33 WYM8 71394.3 6.8 0.05 32 144.1 0.09 34 WYM8 71398.4 — — — 123.6 0.25 15 WYM36 71030.2 7.2 0.01 38 142.5 0.02 33 WYM40 71883.5 6.2 0.06 20 129.5 0.05 20 WYM104 70921.1 6.9 L 33 142.1 L 32 WYM8 71397.2 6.2 0.12 19 — — — CONT. — 5.2 — — 107.4 — — WYM107 69962.1 8.4 0.17 33 145.1 0.22 26 LYM332 69412.2 8.4 0.02 34 149.0 0.05 29 WYM1 69695.2 — — — 123.5 0.26 7 WYM1 69693.2 7.1 0.17 13 126.4 0.19 10 LYM332 69412.5 9.0 L 42 171.5 L 49 WYM59 69705.1 9.6 0.06 52 170.4 0.07 48 CONT. — 6.3 — — 115.3 — — WYM36 71031.2 5.8 0.10 58 119.7 0.07 65 WYM104 70921.8 4.6 0.29 25 112.9 0.16 55 WYM104 70925.2 5.5 L 51 130.3 0.01 79 WYM104 70925.3 5.5 L 49 101.1 0.06 39 WYM36 71033.6 7.1 0.02 92 147.4 L 103 CONT. — 3.7 — — 72.7 — — Table 63. “CONT.” - Control; “Ave.” - Average; “% Incr.” = % increment; “p-val.” - p-value, L - p <0.01.

The genes presented in Tables 64-65 show a significant improvement in plant performance since they produced a larger leaf biomass (leaf area) and root biomass (root length and root coverage) (Table 64) and a higher growth rate of leaf area, root coverage and root length (Table 65) when grown under normal growth conditions, compared to control plants. Plants producing larger root biomass have better possibilities to absorb larger amount of nitrogen from soil. Plants producing larger leaf biomass have better ability to produce assimilates. The genes were cloned under the regulation of a constitutive promoter (At6669). The evaluation of each gene was performed by testing the performance of different number of events. Some of the genes were evaluated in more than one tissue culture assay. This second experiment confirmed the significant increment in leaf and root performance. Event with p-value <0.1 was considered statistically significant.

TABLE 64 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter Leaf Area [cm²] Roots Coverage [cm²] Roots Length [cm] P- % P- % P- % Gene Name Event # Ave. Val. Incr. Ave. Val. Incr. Ave. Val. Incr. WYM104 70926.1 — — — 9.4 L 35 7.3 0.07 17 WYM104 70921.5 — — — 7.9 0.19 13 7.0 0.09 12 WYM40 71882.2 — — — — — — 6.7 0.25 7 WYM104 70922.3 — — — — — — 7.3 0.04 17 WYM40 71881.6 0.6 0.23 14 10.0 0.09 45 7.0 0.17 12 WYM8 71394.3 0.7 L 35 9.0 0.03 30 7.0 0.02 12 WYM36 71031.2 — — — — — — 6.6 0.20 5 WYM8 71398.4 — — — — — — 6.6 0.20 6 WYM36 71030.2 0.6 L 26 8.3 0.07 19 — — — WYM40 71883.5 0.6 0.06 13 — — — — — — WYM104 70921.1 0.6 L 23 7.6 0.29 10 — — — WYM8 71397.2 0.5 0.25 8 — — — — — — WYM8 71395.5 — — — — — — 6.5 0.26 3 WYM40 71880.2 — — — — — — 7.4 L 18 CONT. — 0.5 — — 6.9 — — 6.3 — — WYM59 69704.11 — — — 5.9 0.09 19 6.5 0.02 19 WYM107 69962.1 0.6 0.14 21 6.5 0.08 32 5.8 0.20 6 WYM107 69962.3 0.5 0.26 6 — — — — — — WYM107 69962.4 0.5 0.22 9 6.1 0.05 24 5.8 0.27 6 LYM332 69410.2 — — — 5.8 0.18 19 5.8 0.22 6 LYM332 69412.2 0.7 L 30 6.7 0.01 37 — — — WYM9 69551.10 — — — — — — 6.1 0.01 12 WYM1 69692.7 — — — — — — 5.8 0.22 5 WYM1 69697.1 — — — 6.1 0.05 25 6.3 0.02 15 LYM332 69410.3 — — — — — — 5.7 0.10 4 WYM1 69695.1 0.6 0.11 12 5.5 0.19 11 5.9 0.16 8 WYM1 69695.2 0.5 0.15 9 — — — — — — LYM332 69413.4 — — — — — — 6.2 L 13 WYM1 69693.2 0.7 L 34 6.6 L 35 6.7 L 23 WYM76 70028.2 — — — 6.8 0.06 38 5.7 0.28 5 WYM1 69692.6 0.6 0.09 13 6.0 0.09 23 6.3 L 15 LYM332 69412.3 0.5 0.24 9 — — — 5.7 0.14 4 LYM332 69410.6 0.6 0.15 10 5.3 0.17 9 5.8 0.17 6 LYM332 69412.4 0.6 0.16 22 — — — — — — WYM59 69704.6 0.6 0.11 13 5.9 L 20 6.3 L 15 LYM332 69412.5 0.7 L 41 7.1 0.02 46 5.8 0.19 6 WYM1 69693.4 — — — — — — 6.1 0.01 12 WYM59 69705.1 0.7 0.01 46 7.9 L 61 6.5 L 19 WYM59 69708.2 — — — — — — 5.9 0.17 8 WYM59 69704.4 — — — — — — 5.9 0.03 9 WYM59 69708.3 — — — 5.8 0.17 19 5.7 0.27 5 WYM9 69553.6 — — — — — — 6.3 L 16 WYM9 69550.2 — — — — — — 5.6 0.22 3 CONT. — 0.5   — 4.9   — 5.5 — — WYM36 71031.2 0.5 0.08 53 7.7 0.10 22 — — — WYM36 71033.4 0.4 0.11 16 — — — — — — WYM104 70921.8 0.5 0.08 37 9.5 0.10 51 7.7 L 18 WYM104 70925.2 0.6 L 59 9.2 0.02 47 7.0 0.18 7 WYM104 70925.3 0.5 L 39 8.7 0.02 38 6.8 0.11 5 WYM104 70922.3 — — — — — — 7.3 L 12 WYM36 71033.6 0.7 L 85 8.3 L 32 — — — WYM36 71029.4 0.4 0.07 10 — — — — — — WYM36 71033.2 0.4 0.21 6 — — — — — — WYM36 71034.4 0.5 0.14 34 — — — — — — CONT. — 0.4 — 6.3 — — 6.5 — — — Table 64 “CONT.” - Control; “Ave.” - Average; “% Incr.” = % increment; “p-val.” - p-value, L - p <0.01.

TABLE 65 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter GR Of Leaf Area GR Of Roots GR Of Root Length [cm²/day] Coverage [cm²/day] [cm/day] P- % P- % P- % Gene Name Event # Ave. Val. Incr. Ave. Val. Incr. Ave. Val. Incr. WYM104 70926.1 — — — 1.1 0.04 36 0.7 0.09 20 WYM104 70921.5 — — — — — — 0.7 0.23 13 WYM104 70922.3 — — — — — — 0.7 0.21 14 WYM40 71881.6 — — — 1.2 0.03 47 0.7 0.29 13 WYM8 71394.3 0.1 0.04 32 1.1 0.08 31 0.7 0.26 12 WYM36 71030.2 0.1 0.10 29 1.0 0.28 22 — — — WYM104 70921.1 0.1 0.29 16 — — — — — — WYM40 71880.2 — — — — — — 0.7 0.09 18 CONT. — 0.1 — — 0.8 — — 0.6 — — WYM59 69704.11 — — — 0.7 0.18 21 0.5 0.03 27 WYM107 69962.1 0.1 0.26 22 0.7 0.05 32 — — — WYM107 69962.3 — — — — — — 0.5 0.17 15 WYM107 69962.4 — — — 0.7 0.06 27 0.5 0.29 13 LYM332 69410.2 — — — 0.7 0.20 20 0.5 0.07 22 LYM332 69412.2 0.1 0.11 27 0.8 L 43 0.5 0.18 17 WYM1 69692.7 — — — — — — 0.5 0.12 18 WYM1 69697.1 — — — 0.7 0.13 22 — — — WYM1 69695.1 — — — — — — 0.5 0.06 22 WYM59 69704.14 — — — — — — 0.5 0.23 13 LYM332 69413.4 — — — — — — 0.5 0.03 24 WYM1 69693.2 0.1 0.04 35 0.8 L 39 0.6 L 40 WYM76 70028.2 — — — 0.8 0.02 38 — — — WYM1 69692.6 — — — 0.7 0.10 24 0.5 L 30 LYM332 69412.3 — — — — — — 0.5 0.28 11 LYM332 69410.6 — — — — — — 0.5 0.26 13 WYM59 69704.6 — — — 0.7 0.16 19 0.5 0.21 14 LYM332 69412.5 0.1 L 47 0.8 L 51 0.5 0.03 26 WYM1 69693.4 — — — — — — 0.5 0.13 19 WYM59 69705.1 0.1 0.01 47 0.9 L 60 — — — WYM59 69708.2 — — — — — — 0.5 0.02 30 WYM59 69704.4 — — — — — — 0.5 0.21 13 WYM59 69708.3 — — — 0.7 0.24 18 — — — WYM9 69553.6 — — — — — — 0.5 0.09 20 WYM9 69550.2 — — — — — — 0.5 0.14 16 CONT. — 0.1 — — 0.6 — — 0.4 — — WYM36 71031.2 0.1 0.01 52 0.9 0.17 21 — — — WYM104 70921.8 0.0 0.03 38 1.2 0.01 51 0.7 0.05 15 WYM104 70925.2 0.1 L 53 1.1 L 47 — — — WYM104 70925.3 0.1 L 41 1.1 0.01 40 0.7 0.05 14 WYM104 70922.3 — — — — — — 0.7 0.10 12 WYM36 71033.6 0.1 L 83 1.0 0.04 32 0.7 0.19 10 WYM36 71034.4 0.0 0.13 28 — — — — — — CONT. — 0.0 — — 0.8 — — 0.6 — — Table 65. “CONT.” - Control; “Ave.” - Average; “% Incr.” = % increment; “p-val.” - p-value, L - p <0.01.

Results from T1 plants

Tables 66-68 summarize the observed phenotypes of transgenic plants expressing the gene constructs using the TC-T1 Assays.

The genes presented in Tables 66-68 showed a significant improvement in plant biomass and root development since they exhibit increased biomass (dry and fresh weight) (Table 66), produced a larger leaf and root biomass (leaf area, root length and root coverage) (Table 67), and a higher growth rate of leaf area, root coverage and root length (Table 68) when grown under normal growth conditions, compared to control plants. Plants producing larger root biomass have better possibilities to absorb larger amount of nitrogen from soil. Plants producing larger leaf biomass has better ability to produce assimilates). The genes were cloned under the regulation of a constitutive promoter (At6669; SEQ ID NO:9405). The evaluation of each gene was performed by testing the performance of different number of events. Some of the genes were evaluated in more than one tissue culture assay. This second experiment confirmed the significant increment in leaf and root performance. Event with p-value <0.1 was considered statistically significant.

TABLE 66 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter Gene Event Dry Weight [mg] Fresh Weight [mg] Name # Ave. P-Val. % Incr. Ave. P-Val. % Incr. WYM56 73450 0.0044 0.26 8 — — — CONT. — 0.0041 — — — — — Table 66 “CONT.”Control; “Ave.”Average; “% Incr.” = % increment;“p-val.”p-value, L- p < 0.01.

TABLE 67 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter Leaf Area [cm²] Roots Coverage [cm²] Roots Length [cm²] Gene Name Event # Ave. P-Val. % Incr. Ave. P-Val. % Incr. Ave. P-Val. % Incr. WYM56 73450 0.44 .1 11 5.92 0.03 48 5.9 0.007 22 CONT. — 0.39 — — 3.98 — — 4.8 — — Table 67 “CONT.”Control; “Ave.”Average; “% Incr.” = % increment;“p-val.”p-value, L- p < 0.01.

TABLE 68 Genes showing improved plant performance at normal growth conditions under regulation of At6669 promoter GR Of Leaf Area GR Of Roots GR Of Roots [cm²/day] Coverage [cm²/day] Length [cm²/day] Gene Name Event # Ave. P-Val. % Incr. Ave. P-Val. % Incr. Ave. P-Val. % Incr. WYM56 73450 0.046 0.04 23 0.72 0.01 50 0.67 0.01 25 CONT. — 0.038 — — 0.48 — — 0.53 — — Table 68 “CONT.”Control; “Ave.”Average; “% Incr.” = % increment;“p-val.”p-value, L- p < 0.01.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

It is the intent of the Applicant(s) that all publications, patents and patent applications referred to in this specification are to be incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually noted when referenced that it is to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention. To the extent that section headings are used, they should not be construed as necessarily limiting. In addition, any priority document(s) of this application is/are hereby incorporated herein by reference in its/their entirety.

LENGTHY TABLES The patent application contains a lengthy table section. A copy of the table is available in electronic form from the USPTO web site (https://seqdata.uspto.gov/?pageRequest=docDetail&DocID=US20220049264A1). An electronic copy of the table will also be available from the USPTO upon request and payment of the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.19(b)(3). 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, and/or reducing time to flowering or to inflorescence emergence of a plant, comprising over-expressing within the plant, as compared to a native plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions, a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth by SEQ ID NO: 288, or a homologous polypeptide thereof comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to said amino acid sequence set forth by SEQ ID NO: 288, thereby increasing the yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance and/or reducing the time to flowering or to inflorescence emergence of the plant.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said homologous polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity and conservative amino acid substitutions with respect to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 288 and 8508-8523.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 288 and 8508-8523.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said over-expression is performed by transforming the plant with an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding said polypeptide, wherein said exogenous polynucleotide is operably linked to a promoter for directing expression of said nucleic acid sequence in a plant cell.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said promoter is heterologous to said exogenous polynucleotide.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein said nucleic acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 191, 69 and 4592-4609, or a codon-optimized sequence thereof.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a plant over-expressing said polypeptide for an increased trait, selected from the group consisting of: yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and abiotic stress tolerance, as compared to a native plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a plant over-expressing said polypeptide for a decreased trait, selected from the group consisting of: time to flowering and time to inflorescence emergence, as compared to a native plant of the same species which is grown under the same growth conditions.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising growing the plant over-expressing said polypeptide under the abiotic stress.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said abiotic stress is selected from the group consisting of salinity, drought, osmotic stress, water deprivation, flood, etiolation, low temperature, high temperature, heavy metal toxicity, anaerobiosis, nutrient deficiency, nutrient excess, atmospheric pollution and UV irradiation.
 11. The method of claim 4, wherein said promoter is a wheat promoter.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said promoter comprises the nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 9811, 9806, 9807, 9804, 9805, 9812, 9813, 9809, 9810, 9406, 9409, 9407, 9408, 9797, 9418, 9799, 9800, 9801, 9808, and
 9803. 13. A method of producing a crop, comprising growing a crop of a plant expressing an exogenous polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth by SEQ ID NO: 288, or a homologous polypeptide thereof comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to said amino acid sequence set forth by SEQ ID NO: 288, wherein said plant is derived from a plant selected for increased yield, increased growth rate, increased biomass, increased vigor, increased oil content, increased seed yield, increased fiber yield, increased fiber quality, increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased abiotic stress tolerance, reduced time to flowering and/or reduced time to inflorescence as compared to a control plant, thereby producing the crop.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein said homologous polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity and conservative amino acid substitutions with respect to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 288 and 8508-8523.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said nucleic acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 191, 69, 4592-4609, or a codon-optimized sequence thereof.
 16. A nucleic acid construct comprising an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence as set forth by SEQ ID NO: 288, or a homologous polypeptide thereof comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 94% sequence identity to said amino acid sequence set forth by SEQ ID NO: 288, and a heterologous promoter operably linked to said isolated polynucleotide for directing transcription of said nucleic acid sequence in a host cell, wherein said amino acid sequence is capable of increasing yield, growth rate, biomass, vigor, oil content, seed yield, fiber yield, fiber quality, nitrogen use efficiency, and/or abiotic stress of a plant and/or reducing time to flowering and/or to inflorescence emergence of a plant.
 17. The nucleic acid construct of claim 16, wherein said homologous polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity and conservative amino acid substitutions with respect to an amino acid sequence set forth by SEQ ID NO:
 288. 18. The nucleic acid construct of claim 16, wherein said amino acid sequence is set forth by SEQ ID NO:
 288. 19. The nucleic acid construct of claim 16, wherein said nucleic acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 191 and 69, or a codon-optimized sequence thereof.
 20. A plant cell transformed with the nucleic acid construct of claim
 16. 21. A transgenic plant comprising the nucleic acid construct of claim
 16. 22. A method of growing a crop, the method comprising seeding seeds and/or planting plantlets of a plant transformed with the nucleic acid construct of claim 16, wherein the plant is derived from plants selected for at least one trait selected from the group consisting of: increased nitrogen use efficiency, increased abiotic stress tolerance, increased biomass, increased growth rate, increased vigor, increased yield and increased fiber yield or quality, increased oil content, reduced time to flowering and reduced time to inflorescence emergence as compared to a non-transformed plant, thereby growing the crop. 